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Canada geese have black heads and necks. They have a white stripe under their chins. Their feathers are gray, brown, black and white. Birds have wings instead of arms like many other animals do. They have a black tail and a white underbelly. They have two legs and webbed feet. Birds' bones are nearly hollow so they can fly. next |
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The goose has a black bill. The edges of the bill are serrated which means it has very small teeth along the edges. If you look closely, you will see them. The front of the bill is a cutter for cutting grasses and plants in the water. Geese are herbivores which means they only eat plants. next |
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Geese are very graceful when they fly. They migrate or fly each winter to warmer areas in the southern part of the United States, Mexico, and even South America. They return north in the spring. They fly thousands of miles each year during migration. next |
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The mother goose pulls out down (a special kind of feather) from her breast and fluffs it over her nest of twigs and branches. This makes it soft and warm for her eggs. next |
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These are goose eggs. If you look carefully, you will see the front one beginning to hatch. It takes two whole days for goslings to break their way out for their shells. The goose and the gander (mother and father) protect the eggs at all times. next |
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Once the gosling has hatched, it takes another whole day before it is completely dry and downy. The gosling blends in very well with the nest. You must look carefully to see the gosling. Both parents stay close at this time because the gosling learns to imprint or recognize its parents. next |
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The mother goose is teaching her goslings how to get food to eat. They use that cutting bill to snap off tender plants that grow on the bottom of ponds, lakes and rivers. |
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Even when the goslings get older, they stay together as a family. Goslings grow very quickly. At about two weeks, the goslings begin getting their real feathers. Up to this point they have only had the soft down they were born with. |
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Geese, ducks and swans all have webbed feet. A webbed foot looks much like a land bird's foot except there is a layer of skin that connects the toes together. This helps them swim better. They use their foot like a paddle to push more water with each kick. Have you ever used flippers while you were swimming? You go much faster, don't you? It's the same way for geese. next |
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Links to more information about Canada geese.
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CD-ROM's, and videos.
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