To some they are a menace or a nuisance; to others they are amusement, entertainment and perhaps a friend. “They” are the abundant and prolific Canada Geese that can always be found throughout this aging prison by the bay.
Once hunted to a point where they were protected and considered threatened, these social birds can once again be found in every contiguous U.S. state and Canadian province.
Though migratory by nature, warming temperatures and a keen ability to adapt to their environment have made these hardy fellows a year-round fixture in areas which feature bodies of water, such as parks, beaches and golf courses. Due to their adaptability, they have become the most common waterfowl species in North America.
Flying in a “V-formation,” with favorable winds they have been known to cover 1,500 miles in a 24-hour period, though generally they fly at a much more relaxed pace.
Social by nature, they generally remain in flocks except when nesting. These geese can get quite mean when protecting a nest or their young, using their beaks and their wings to beat back predators.
The Canada goose will eat grains, vegetation and even fish and small insects. Locally, they seem to have a special affinity for PIA bread.
Adult geese are monogamous, and most will stay together throughout the 10-24 years of their lifespan in the wild. The male goose is the larger of the pair at 7-14 pounds, 30-43 inches long with a 50-71-inch wingspan), while the female is slightly smaller at 5-12 pounds.
After the female lays her 3-8 eggs, both adults lose their flight feathers and cannot fly at all during the entire 25-28 day incubation period. Canada Geese can and will interbreed with domesticated geese, as anyone familiar with San Quentin’s resident population, and “Max,” can confirm.
The bacteria in their droppings, their loud noise and confrontational behavior have lead many to consider them as pests. They have been blamed for the high fecal coli forms found at some beaches. Fifty geese can produce 2.5 tons of excrement in a single year.
They have been involved in a number of “bird strikes” at many airports throughout the country, including the crash of US Airways Flight 1549 into the Hudson River on Jan. 15, 2009.
