Top 30 Most Interesting Geese Facts
When exploring geese facts, it is important to be aware that a large number of birds fall under this category including ducks and swans. It is believed that these striking and intelligent birds have inhabited North America for more than 10 million years. Individuals investigating the Anatidae family all agree that each species is fascinating in their own unique way. Below are the top 30 geese facts that you should find very interesting.
- The term goose is used when referring to a female and a gander is the name used for a male.
- A large group of geese all hanging out together on the ground is referred to as a gaggle.
- Geese have a fairly long life expectancy of around 20 years.
- These birds are phenomenal long-distance fliers and will travel a couple of hundred miles to find water, food and safety.
- Before young birds are fledged, they are called goslings.
- Canada geese are the most popular of all the geese species.
- Interestingly, Canada Geese are found naturally in China, Siberia and Japan and have been introduced to Scandinavia, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Great Britain.
- Geese are omnivores, eating grains, vegetation, fish, insects, aquatic plants and garbage.
- One of the more surprising geese facts is that they will defend themselves against humans if they feel that their goslings are threatened. They will spread out their wings, stand erect and make a hissing sound. If the human doesn’t leave, they will charge and attack with their wings or bite.
- Geese have places that they go to every year where they join others or simply rest, before and during migration.
- These birds almost always return to the area where they were born every year when they are ready to mate and nest.
- Probably one of the most phenomenal geese facts is that their desire to return to their birth place every year is so strong that they will often fly up to 3,000 miles to get there.
- An average clutch is made up of five eggs.
- The mother goose typically lays one egg per day until her clutch is complete yet they are almost always born on the same day.
- Foxes, owls, raccoons, snapping turtles, eagles and coyotes are natural predators, especially to their eggs.
- Geese can fly when they are between two and three months old.
- Adult geese molt in June and are unable to fly during this time.
- Geese mate for life unless one dies and then they may choose a new partner.
- Both parents will protect their eggs but the female typically spends more time staying with the nest than the male.
- One of the best geese facts to actually observe is the way that the parents will keep their goslings in one straight line with one parent behind and one in front.
- Migration does not come naturally, it is a learned process.
- Geese prefer to nest somewhere that is near the water yet also isolate. Sometimes, they will choose swamps or bushy areas if there is not a threat of flooding.
- Incubation time lasts between 28 and 30 days.
- When geese are molting in the summer, they have to stay close to a water source so that they have an accessible escape route from predators.
- Some flocks of geese, may choose to not migrate in the winter if they are supplied with enough food to live on through the season.
- Geese are considered pests in some locations, especially golf courses, beaches and public parks.
- Most Canada geese live in the Great Lakes region.
- Geese flying in formation are called a skein or a wedge.
- Grey geese have been kept for their eggs, meat and down feathers as far back as ancient times.
- Domestic geese can lay as many as 50 eggs every year.
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