Canada Goose
Branta canadensis

Canada Goose is an oft-overlooked species of waterfowl, simply because they are quite abundant, and wild stock has been diluted by escapees from captive collections, creating a non-migratory, nuisance-bird population across much of the U.S.. But birders have started paying a bit more attention recently, since the A.O.U. split the smaller forms of Canada Goose into a new species, Cackling Goose. A new reason to scan those flocks closely!  


Don't mess with Mother Goose!

The bird pictured above and below was sitting on a nest along the Terrapin Trail at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, in Queens, New York. I almost walked right past it, but heard an awful hissing, which made me jump, I admit. I turned to see this bird on the nest, issuing a stern warning- I quickly determined the boundaries of the hiss-zone, and proceded to capture some nice video.  


A Canada Goose on its nest keeps a wary eye on me.

This gosling was one of several I encountered elsewhere at Jamaica Bay that same day. Geese can be quite fecund- I recently spotted a Canada Goose in Inwood Hill park with 9 of these fluffy yellow cuties in tow!  


Don't you just want to cuddle with it?.

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