- The Canada Goose
- Environmental Canada's Canada Goose
- Habitat
for Canadian Geese
- Birds of Utah Lake
- EEK's Canada Goose Page
- Nest Structures for Ducks and Geese
- Bird Biographies: Canada Goose
-
Canada Geese are one of the few bird species that are monogamous, having a single life-long
mate. Should one of the pair die, the remaining goose may take another mate but more generally will remain
alone.
Four to eight large white eggs are laid in a nest, a depression lined with sticks and vegetation and an inner
lining of down that the birds pluck from their own breasts.
- Canada Goose
-
Chaffee Zoological Gardens of Fresno
-
"BEHAVIOR: Down is plucked by the hen for lining the
nest. Tufts of down, and then sticks are pulled over the
eggs whenever the hen leaves the nest. This helps to
keep the eggs warm while she is gone, and it camouflages
the nest also."
- CANADA GOOSE
- (Branta canadensis)
-
Canada geese form pair bonds and mate for life, but when separated by death, the survivor will seek a new mate.
Canada geese have a long life span, documented at over 30 years old.">
- The City Naturalist - Canada Goose
-
The goose incubates five or six creamy eggs for 28 to 30
days. The gander (male) constantly guards her, and never is his strength
and fidelity more in evidence. We have seen one gander fiercely chase
other geese away from the nest..."
"On the water, the gander
usually leads, the goslings string out in single file with the female bringing up the rear..."
- Saving
Fuel Cost with Formation Flying
-
"For millions of years, birds have taken
advantage of the aerodynamic benefits
obtained by flying in formation. The
traditional "V" formation, flown by many
species of birds including gulls, pelicans,
and geese, allows each of the trailing birds
to fly in the upwash flowfield that exists
just outboard of the bird immediately
ahead in the formation. The result for the individual birds is a lower
induced drag allowing a reduction in the energy required to maintain a
given speed. For migratory birds, formation flight extends the range of
the system of birds past the range of birds flying solo. The
Autonomous Formation Flight (AFF) Project is seeking to apply this
symbiotic relationship to aircraft."
-
Geese
Might Help NASA Get Off The Ground
-
"Ever wonder why geese fly in tight v-formation?
NASA researcher Steve Smith did, as a child, and figured it out.
"Birds fly in that formation because it reduces drag resistance,"
Smith said.
In other words, by flying slightly behind another bird's wing,
a goose can take advantage of the "vortex," or air swirling behind it.
The spiraling flow dips under the bird, and gives it lift..."
- NASA Mimics Geese
-
"Taking a cue from the world of geese,
scientists are developing a system that will allow
airplanes to fly autonomously in tight V-formations
over long distances."
- To Save Fuel,
Fly In Formation, Say UCLA Researchers
- Rising Fuel Costs:
-
UCLA Engineers Turn to Nature to Solve Human Problem
- Eagles Soar,
but Geese Fly Farther!
- by Loreena Thiessen,
a Winnipeg teacher and children's author
-
"When a goose gets sick or is wounded while flying, two geese drop out of
formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it
dies or is able to fly again. Then they join another flock or catch up with their
own..."
-
Operation Migration - Our Story
-
"As a young boy, William Lishman joined the Cadets because he wanted to fly.
But a mandatory eye test revealed he was colour blind and dyslexic,
stopping him from becoming a conventional pilot. So, he decided to become
an unconventional one. He used his ultralight-piloting skills in 1988 to
lead a flock of 12 Canada geese on local flights. In doing so, he made
ornithological and aviation history. Then, in 1994, he and partner
Joseph Duff together led the first aircraft migration of 18 geese
from Ontario to Virginia..."
- Books and Videos
- Fly
Away Home
-
Rated: PG
-
Studio: Columbia/Tristar Studios
-
Video Release Date: December 28, 1999
- Comment:
-
"Fly Away Home was inspired by the true story of Bill Lishman, a Canadian artist
who, with Joe Duff and Dr. William Sladen, proved that wild fowl can be taught new,
safer migration routes..."
In the movie, the characters are fiction, but the story is based on Operation Migration.
-
Synopsis:
-
"The soaring adventure of a 13-year-old girl and her estranged father
who learn what family is all about when they adopt an orphaned flock
of geese and teach them to fly! Starring Jeff Daniels, Anna Paquin
and Dana Delaney."
- Fly Away Home Game
- Aleutian Canada Goose
- Life Histories of North American Birds
-
"The period of incubation varies from 28 to 30 days; probably the former is the usual time under favorable
circumstances. The gander never sits on the nest, but while the goose is incubating he is constantly in attendance, except when
obliged to leave in search of food. He is a staunch defender of the home and is no mean antagonist. Audubon (1840) relates
the following:"
"It is during the breeding season that the gander displays his courage and strength to the greatest advantage. I knew
one that appeared larger than usual, and of which all the lower parts were of a rich cream color. It returned three
years in succession to a large pond a few miles from the mouth of Green River, in Kentucky, and whenever I visited
the nest it seemed to look upon me with utter contempt. It would stand in a stately attitude until I reached within a few
yards of the nest, when suddenly lowering its head and shaking it as if it were dislocated from the neck, it would open
its wings and launch into the air, flying directly at me. So daring was this fine fellow that in two instances he struck me
a blow with one of his wings on the right arm, which for an instant I thought was broken. I observed that immediately
after such an effort to defend his nest and mate he would run swiftly toward them, pass his head and neck several
times over and around the female, and again assume his attitude of defiance."
- These Wonderful Geese
- "The next time you see a Canada Goose -- remember..."
- Geese Links
- Bird Clipart
- Canada Goose Printout
|