Yup…taken right outside my backyard fence, which is on the Municipal Golf Course.
There were actually two pairs of them and they weren’t even remotely intimidated by the golfers trying to complete the 7th hole. In fact — they were a little more than curious about those “little white eggs” the golfers were trying to drop into that hole…it was a riot (well, for me…not for the golfers).
Being the first time I’d really seen them up close – I Googled them to find out where they were coming from (since their name indicates where they’re heading to)…so for those interested, here’s what we now know (courtesy of Wikipedia):
- The black head and neck with the white “chinstrap” distinguish the Canada Goose from all other goose species but one (the Barnacle Goose, which grey with a black breast).
They range from 30 – 43 inches long and have a 50 – 71 inch wingspan.
- Males weigh 7-14 pounds and females weigh about 10% less.
- They have an average lifespan of 10-24 years.
- They’re primarily herbivores with a basic diet of green vegetation and grains, although they sometimes eat small insects and fish.
- The males are very aggressive in defending their territory and if theatened, will first stand erect, spread their wings and produce a hissing sound. If that doesn’t work, they’ll charge and ultimately, bite or attack with their wings.
- They breed in Canada and the Northern United States and migrate to the Southern United States for the winter, although in mild climates, some have become non-migratory due to adequate winter food supply and a lack of former predators. I was thinking they Winter’d in Mexico…but nope.
- Once they reach adulthood, they are rarely preyed upon (beyond humans), but can be taken by coyotes, foxes, wolves, owls and Bald Eages.
And now we have concluded our lesson in Ornithology…oh wait, that was probably the last lesson…what the heck we call the study of birds!
