Nature Note: Nesting With The Canada Goose

What a perfect spot for a Canada Goose nest. The female goose made this nest by laying on the ground and moving her body around to make a shallow depression in the dirt. Then she used grasses and feathers to make a perfect place to cradle the eggs and her body while she keeps them warm. She will lay one egg every day or two until she’s laid 4-10 eggs and then incubate them for about 30 days.

Geese will often guard their nests and attack dogs and people—they can’t do much harm to us but will get very agitated and can be very intimidating with their efforts to drive you away. This one is likely not done laying, and that’s why she’s not sitting on the eggs just yet. If she starts warming them too soon, they won’t all hatch close enough together because some will have been warmed longer. She waits until she’s done laying them all before she starts incubating so they will hatch around the same time. She’s likely not far. The male is usually close by, too.

When the babies (called goslings) hatch, she will lead them away, and they will get into the water and follow their parents. Geese don’t feed their babies, but they do protect them. The goslings find their own insects and plant matter to eat as they are led around by their parents. They grow up fast if they aren’t eaten by predators. They are an important food source for many species on Lake Martin such as foxes, snapping turtles, and even fish like bass!

It’s exciting to find a bird’s nest, but not a good idea to bother it. The birds WILL NOT smell you, but if you scare them away too many times, they will decide that the area isn’t safe and move on. Look for Canada geese when you’re on the lake this summer—they might have a line of young goslings training behind!