Canada geese are a familiar sight across North America. Understanding what a goose nest looks like provides insight into how these birds prepare for their young. This description focuses on the Canada Goose, the species most often encountered in public and urban settings. The nest’s visual characteristics, environmental placement, and the appearance of the eggs all contribute to its identification.
Structure and Composition
A goose nest is a large, relatively flat, and shallow bowl-shaped depression built on the ground. The female builds the structure by scraping the earth and gathering surrounding materials. The size varies significantly, often ranging from 12 to 40 inches in diameter, depending on the available materials and the size of the goose subspecies.
The outer construction consists of coarse, dry plant matter like grasses, reeds, sticks, and weeds. The inner lining is generously padded with soft, gray-white down feathers that the female plucks from her own breast. This down provides excellent insulation for the eggs and is the most obvious sign that the structure is an active nest. The nest is typically used only for egg-laying and incubation, after which the family unit departs.
Typical Nesting Locations
Canada geese are highly adaptable, but they almost always select a nesting site near a body of water, such as a pond, lake, or river. Proximity to water offers a quick escape route from land predators and provides access to food resources. The nest is usually situated on slightly elevated ground to minimize flooding and give the incubating female a better view of approaching threats.
The preference for concealment often leads them to choose islands, dense shoreline vegetation, or the tops of muskrat lodges. In urban and suburban environments, geese have demonstrated flexibility, occasionally nesting in unexpected places like flower boxes, rooftops, or landscape planters. This adaptability contributes to their success in areas with high human activity.
The Eggs and Clutch
Once the nest is constructed, the female lays her eggs at a rate of approximately one egg every one to two days. The eggs are generally oval and possess a color described as dull white or creamy buff. Over the incubation period, the eggs often become stained by the nest material.
The typical clutch size ranges from four to seven eggs, though a single nest may contain two to twelve eggs. The female waits until the entire clutch has been laid before beginning incubation. This ensures that all the young hatch almost simultaneously. Incubation lasts for about 25 to 30 days.