Canada geese are not welcome on our lawn. They are a menace, heavy feeder, especially on dark green healthy grass. They leave droppings everywhere on the lawn that created a burn like circle. I believe this come from nitrogen in their droppings. The lawn slope to the water edge. So my husband decided to install a yard guard (portable fence) that comes in 50 feet rolls, 4 feet in hight. That did the trick, no more geese foraging on our lawn. They are lazy bird, rather ambling to the lawn than fly over it. Watching them on the water is quite a sight . When they sense danger, bobbing up and down their head making a clucking noise. Signalling they are ready to fly out. The clucking noise went into a crescendo, their web feet start to run on the water, wings spread wide, flapping furiously and slowly they lift off. Flying along the McKenzie river to find another grass field for foraging.
Did you know that the gander wingspread is as much as 5 feet and his weight approaches 14 pounds, wow that is heavy. The gander is also a fierce defender of his mate and offsprings. Their habitats are ponds, lakes rivers, freshwater, salt marshes, and grain fields. The nest is a hollow lined with plant matter and down. Eggs 2-12, white, incubation 25-30 days, by female only. Gosling leave nest soon after hatching, they will stay with their parents until next spring. Their foods are aquatic plants, grass, and grain.
From spring to fall often I look up in the sky geese flying in their V formation males and females honking greeting each other. A beautiful sight to be hold in spite their annoying habit of ruining our lawn with their droppings.
Happy Gardening……
Canada geese resting on the edge of the lawn.
Riosamba's Gardening and Photo Journal 