judy k

[Judy K]

Hi, I am new to' wild about britain'. so hope I'm not mentioning anything that has been posted and dealt with before.
I have a large pond on my property with a small island, for the last 7 years the same pair of canada geese ( i know because the male has a limp) arrives around this time. They are very territorial and scare off any others who try to land. They are brilliant parents and are usually successful at raising the whole brood. They leave about the end of August. I thought British Canadian geese didn't migrate, I think one of them has a ring on it's leg. Has anyone else had the same experience?

[healfdan]

I think you will find that Canada geese migrate locally to other ponds and richer feeding grounds. Outside of the breeding season family groups usually stay together.

[nikolai_avenger]

Hi Judy..

A lot of birds in the UK migrate, even Canada geese, even on a 'local' level. Where birds spend the winter is not necessarily where they breed, etc. In summer, numbers of Canada geese diminish greatly at some of the places where I go birdwatching.

Another well-known example is the blackbird; the winter birds we have here in the UK may well spend the summer in Scandinavia. The blackbirds that breed here in summer may spend the winter further south.

The bird you are seeing may have been ringed for research purposes, and if you can find out the number on the ring it should be possible for you to find out where it has been when it is not nesting on your island.

Best regards, Nik.

[Judy K]

thank you, Nik and Healfdan. I can see this site will be so interesting and helpful!
Judy

[sunnydale]

Hi Judy,

Welcome to WAB!

Tracey