January 10, 2007
The Lesser Snow Goose
 
Wetland habitats for nesting and feeding are disappearing or becoming polluted or disturbed. Human activity, like off-road vehicles, boats  and jet skis, disturb breeding birds. The next time you see a colony of birds, look closely. What are they doing? Are they nesting? Stay away from nesting areas, while fishing, boating or just having a day at the beach.
 
Garbage and litter are real threats to waterbirds. Birds can become entangled in discarded fishing line, struggling until they die. Plastics, discarded fishing lures anything shiny, attract the birds, while they are out searching for food, to feed their young.
 
These problems can be solved.
 
 Preserve and protect the wetland habitat. Make sure you do not litter, or disturb.
 
 


 

Lesser Snow Goose
 
There are two different kinds of Snow Geese: The Greater Snow Goose and the Lesser Snow Goose. What we have in our area, right now, are the Lesser Snow Geese.
 
The Goose's eyes are on the side of its head, allowing it the ability to see almost in a complete circle. The average length of a Snow Goose is 19 in. Its average wing spread is 59 inches. The Snow Goose can hear very well, but it does not have a good sense of smell. It depends on its sight and hearing to get food. which consists of: grasses, waste crops and roots.
 
The Lesser Snow Goose goes through a phase of being "blue." Its feathers turn darker. They change colors depending on which color will help them camouflage themselves, at different times of the year.
 
Snow Geese migrate in large flocks. When migrating, they fly at about fifty miles per hour in a "V" shaped formation.The Snow Goose spends its winters in southern U.S.A. and northern Mexico.
 
When the goose is about 2 years old, it starts looking for a mate, during the winter migration season. It will mate and lays its eggs during the spring. It can lay between 2 to 10 eggs, but normally lays only four to five. The female guards the nest. The male also stays around, to keep predators away. The nest is always near water, and is made up of grass, moss and small willow branches, with downy feathers added for warmth. The eggs hatch in about 3 weeks. About two weeks after the brood is hatched, the parents start molting and are unable to fly while in this molting state. By the time they have finished molting, the babies are able to fly and leave with their parents. Lesser Snow Geese usually leave our area in February.
 
What can you do to make sure the habitat will be clean and safe for them to return to next year?
 
 
 
"Like winds and sunsets, wild things were taken for granted until progress began to do away with them. Now we face the question whether a still higher 'standard of living' is worth its cost in things natural, wild and free. The opportunity to see geese is much more important than television ! "
Aldo Leopold
 
resources:http://www.thewildones.org.
 
csw

 

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