Goose

Goose species inhabit wetlands, tundra, and farm fields across the Northern Hemisphere. Their long necks and sturdy bills pull up grasses, roots, and leftover grain, while webbed feet propel them through shallow lakes. Thick down feathers insulate the body, and waterproof outer feathers enable long flights through rain and snow. Migratory geese such as snow geese and Canada geese travel thousands of miles twice a year, resting at traditional stopovers rich in food and safe roosting sites.

Geese fly in V formations to conserve energy. The lead bird slices through the air and then falls back to rest while another takes the front. Constant honking maintains spacing and encourages tired birds. Families remain together for much of the year: goslings imprint on their parents within hours of hatching and follow them to water for their first swim. The parents stand guard, hissing and spreading wings when predators approach, while goslings graze on tender shoots and learn migration routes.

Nesting occurs on island hummocks, marsh edges, or prairies dotted with ponds. Female geese build nests from grasses and line them with down plucked from their breast. Males patrol nearby, and both parents aggressively defend eggs from foxes or gulls. Eggs incubate for around four weeks, after which goslings emerge covered in yellow or gray down. They can feed themselves immediately but rely on parents for warmth through the first nights.

People have farmed geese for millennia, raising breeds for meat, eggs, and feathers used in pillows and quill pens. Modern farmers employ geese as natural weeders in orchards and vineyards, where the birds nibble grass without harming tree bark. In urban parks, resident geese graze lawns and sometimes create conflicts through droppings or territorial behavior. Wildlife managers encourage planting native vegetation, using trained dogs to haze geese from sensitive areas, and protecting nesting sites from disturbance.

Citizen scientists participate in Christmas Bird Counts and eBird surveys to monitor goose populations. Conservation groups restore prairie potholes and Arctic breeding grounds threatened by climate change. Educators use goose migrations to teach navigation, teamwork, and climate resilience, encouraging students to design science projects tracking arrival dates or mapping high-altitude flyways. By respecting nesting areas, keeping dogs leashed near broods, and supporting wetland restoration, communities ensure that the echo of honking geese continues to mark changing seasons.