Yesterday morning, I saw several flocks of Canada geese fly over. We don't have any open water except for some parts of rivers. Now, in some fields the snow is gone and they could feed.
Nevertheless, they are probably not going to land here and stay. No, the first geese here are going on. Water isn't open here and they are flying further north, What gives?
Well, some Canada geese fly to lakes on the arctic coast. They stay on the ice for six to eight weeks. They eat debris on the ice from material that has blown on the ice during the winter. There are also insects on the ice at that time of year. There will be fresh water on top of the ice.
When most of the snow and ice have melted they will nest.
Now Innuit hunters take advantage of this situation and harvest large numbers of geese. They use white material to make a blind that allows them to move. They are a able to harvest many geese. Meat and down it valuable at that time. These days hunters fly out and make a camp and stay a few days. People who have permanent jobs go on these hunts.
I don't know about their behavior in the fall. I do know that it's pretty cool when flying, to look down and see flocks of geese below you.
I always look forward to hearing the honkers fly over!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a true hunting party. When your geese head south, I can hear them before I see them. They aren't flying too high and its so magnificent to watch them. Kansas City has several suburban lakes that the loose goose nest around. Linda
ReplyDeleteOur geese have come back to the swamp. I have to read more about their migration. I don't know where the come from or where they go. Off to google.
ReplyDeleteWe see loads of Canada geese here. No-one's hunting them, though. 😀
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see a flock of Canada Geese from any vantage point!
ReplyDeleteInteresting how they eat debris from the ice, I would never have thought it.
Thanks Red
I had no idea that they flew that far north.
ReplyDeleteIt always amazes me when I see geese or ducks walking or sitting on the icy ponds. I imagine it is so cold and uncomfortable but they must have layers of feathers that protect them as they never seem bothered!
ReplyDeleteWe seem to have Canada Geese here year round, they do not leave.
ReplyDeleteTake care, have a wonderful weekend.
Over here we have the Brent Geese that fly from the Canadian Arctic to Ireland. They arrive in Autumn and leave in April. I've never seen them though.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that there are insects on the ice for the geese to eat. It seems like ice would be a very sterile environment, one that wouldn't attract bugs, so that's a surprise.
ReplyDeleteI do remember seeing lots of Canada geese when we lived in Illinois. I didn't know they were hunted for food and down though. It makes sense, and yet we saw huge numbers of them in Illinois. Here in Hawaii it's just Nene geese.
ReplyDeleteI have often seen wild Canada geese here in England. They fly into our country without passports. I guess that makes them illegal aliens, Very feisty birds.
ReplyDeleteOur geese have begun to return.
ReplyDeleteI love to hear the geese honking overhead. Last summer at two different fields in our town I saw a flock of Canada geese. First time ever seeing them that close.
ReplyDeleteBirds are my beloved fantasy ♥️
ReplyDeleteI love to be around them since always
I miss my growing days when we would see them around in native village!
It’s lovely to hear their voices ,they deliver peace to mind 🥹♥️