Canada geese are a familiar sight across North America, recognized for their distinctive calls and V-shaped flight formations. These large waterfowl are associated with seasonal changes, often signaling the shift between seasons.
Migration Destinations
Many Canada geese migrate southward from their northern breeding grounds as winter approaches. Their primary wintering destinations span much of the United States and extend into northeastern Mexico. Common habitats include agricultural fields, large open water bodies like lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, and urban or suburban parks.
Regions like the Atlantic Coast, including states such as Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, and the Mississippi River Valley host significant concentrations. Geese breeding in northern Canada and Alaska often travel to the central and southern United States. For instance, some Atlantic Population geese from northern Quebec travel to coastal areas between New Jersey and North Carolina, including the Chesapeake Bay and Delmarva Peninsula. They seek areas where food remains accessible and water bodies largely stay unfrozen.
Factors Influencing Wintering Grounds
The selection of wintering grounds is driven by the availability of food, open water, and suitable climatic conditions. As northern regions experience freezing temperatures and snow cover, natural food sources become scarce, prompting geese to move south. They frequently feed in agricultural fields on waste grains like corn, oats, and soybeans, which provide high-calorie energy.
Open water serves as a safe roosting place and refuge from predators, especially when ice covers other areas. Milder climates prevent widespread freezing, allowing continued access to water and foraging opportunities. Human-modified landscapes like golf courses, parks, and retention ponds also offer accessible foraging and open water.
Non-Migratory Populations
Not all Canada geese migrate; some populations have become resident, particularly in urban and suburban environments. These non-migratory populations are found across the United States and southern Canada, including the Pacific coast (British Columbia to northern California) and various Atlantic coast locations. Their year-round presence is attributed to consistent food availability and fewer natural predators in developed areas.
Urban settings provide ample food like manicured lawns and discarded human food, and open water that often remains unfrozen. Reduced predator threat and limited hunting pressure contribute to these geese staying put. The number of resident geese has increased significantly over recent decades, sometimes surpassing migratory populations.
Wintering Behavior
Upon arriving at their wintering grounds, Canada geese establish routines focused on foraging, resting, and maintaining social bonds. They typically forage in fields during early morning and late afternoon, consuming waste grains and vegetation. During the rest of the day, they often gather on open water for safety and rest, minimizing energy expenditure.
Geese form large flocks (hundreds to thousands of individuals) for collective security against predators. Family units (parents and their offspring) often remain together throughout winter. As winter wanes and days lengthen, geese become more restless, exhibiting display postures and preparing for their return migration.