Comments on: Heading South

By: Matt M.

Matt M. — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 03:28:11 +0000

Interesting. So they have migrated from somewhere and they winter in Pittsburgh? Or maybe they will continue further south as it turns colder? I didn’t pay attention to them in previous winters but I will keep an eye out this year. They are quite big, seen close up!

By: Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 12:06:54 +0000

Matt, I have wondered the same thing about those geese because I often pass them when driving on Second Ave. I have no idea how far they’ve migrated but they are certainly a winter-only flock for that location. Since they tolerate city activity they must normally live in a place that’s similar, but unless we see a band on one of them — and find out where it was banded — I don’t think we’ll ever learn their origin.

By: Matt M.

Matt M. — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 03:42:12 +0000

Kate – I love your blog. I have been wondering about a number of Canada geese that I’ve seen down by the Hot Metal Bridge for the last month or so, on the north bank of the Mon. Are these resident or migrant geese, do you think? They don’t seem to have gone anywhere for a while, yet I don’t remember seeing them there in the warmer months. I pass the spot every day on my commute. Anyhow they seem content to just munch on grass and wander on the roads and sidewalks. I hope they don’t venture on to Second Avenue as that probably wouldn’t end well.

By: Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:55:32 +0000

When you see the goose tip up in the pond with its feet in the air it’s eating underwater vegetation. This is normal and good. Canda geese also eat grass, which is why you see them on golf courses. The bad news is that it must leave before the pond freezes or it will likely starve in the winter. If it doesn’t fly much, it may be injured.
If you are worried about this goose, contact your local wildlife rehabilitator to find out what you (or they) can do for it. Try The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota, see http://www.wrcmn.org/

By: Kelly J. Dagen

Kelly J. Dagen — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:30:35 +0000

We live in Northern Minnesota where most of the Canadian geese have already left. But, there has been one stray goose residing in my backyard which runs adjacent to a pond. My kids have named him, Shawn. We are getting worried about the goose not leaving and possibly starving during the winter. The most we’ve seen it fly is over the pond about 1 foot above the water. We have also watched it doing weird things in the pond, putting his head under water and then flipping his body so that his feet are up in the air. Is this normal geese behavior? Thank you for your comments.