times begins in late January forCanada Geese that are wintering far south, but the majority of movement occurs inMarch (Resource Reader). The female chooses the breeding grounds and nestingsite, the breeding grounds are those of which she was hatched (Breen). Idealbreeding grounds have the following characteristics: Browsing area for prior tonesting season, firm foundations, excellent visibility in all directions, isolated,brooding area of open water, aquatic feeding area, cover of emergent plants forprotection during molting, and a browsing area for brood after they learn to fly(Wormer). Some areas with these characteristics are: swamps, marshes, meadows,rivers, lakes, ponds, islands, Tundra and coastal plain (Wormer). Preferred placesto build the nest are small islets, muskrat houses, other birds abandoned orsometimes unabandoned nests, in the case where the nest is still occupied thefemale goose will incubate the other birds eggs as well as her own. Canada Geeseespecially the Giant Canada will also use man made nests like washtubs, old tiresand haystacks (Wormer). Nest size varies from four inches deep by ten incheswide to fifteen inches deep and forty-four inches wide (Wormer). After the femalehas chosen the breeding grounds, nesting site and built the nest the male guardswhile she incubates the eggs (Wormer). Canada Geese breed all over Canada andin ideal breeding areas there may be many geese per acre but some territories maybe as much as thirty five acres (Wormer) (See maps 1 and 2 for breeding areas anddensities of geese). The migration south to the wintering grounds is a much fasterpaced migration than the one north and done in much larger flocks (Breen). Eachflock usually consists of a group of families (Breen). October and mid-Novemberis when the greatest numbers of Canada Geese can be seen moving south(Resource Reader). Popular wintering grounds have a good food supply, suitableresting grounds near a lake, river or resivoir,...
