When Do Canadian Geese Migrate
However there has recently been an increasingly large number of resident geese.
When do canadian geese migrate. Canada geese traditionally spend the warmer months of the year in canada then migrate south for the cold winter months. In the early 1900s non migratory geese were brought in by the hundreds to populate wildlife refuges. While many millions of canada geese do still migrate from northern north america to central and southern north america during the winter months. Canada geese are known for their seasonal migrations.
There is a large population of canada geese that no longer migrate and instead stay year round in parts of the northern half of the united states and some warmer coastal regions of western canada. Some canada geese known as resident geese only migrate short distances unless severe weather forces them to leave according to the humane society. It is all about the food with geese as farmers well know. During fall canadian geese begin migrating from their northern breeding areas in late august and this pattern continues up to september.
They move further south following four migration corridors. Canada geese are a native species to north america and can be seen on golf courses farmland wildlife refuges and airports. The geese begin to migrate in autumn as the weather in the far north starts to turn. Some geese return to the same nesting ground year after year and lay eggs with their mate raising.
Many geese find rest points along their migration route and may spend several days or weeks in a particular area before travelling further south according the wisconsin department of natural resources. This cycle has started to change due to climate change. The ground will soon be frozen or covered in snow cutting off the food supply the winds and precipitation will make life hard and once the winds strengthen flying away will be hazardous. Citation needed the early migrants have a tendency to spend less time at rest stops and go through the migration much faster.
Canada geese also do not travel as far south as they used to stopping in the uppermost part of mexico rather. The peak time for canadian geese migration is fall during the months of september and october when the birds typically relocate from northern regions of north america such as canada and the northern half of the united states. Now while many canada geese migrate south for the winter these other geese stay and multiply. The geese that winter farthest south reach their southernmost regions in november or december.
Most canada geese have staging or resting areas where they join up with others. The atlantic mississippi and central and pacific flyways to. The later birds usually spend more time at rest stops.