Family Ties by Janette Slack

Family Ties

by Janette Slack

20" X 24"; Watercolor

During the month of May, nesting Canada Geese are a common sight. It's great fun to wander around ponds and lakes, observing the females with their hatchlings from a distance.

Canada Geese are renowned for having close-knit families; the young usually remain with their parents until the following spring. After they are only a few days old, the goslings perform a "triumph" ceremony, involving honking, head-bobbing, and soft grunting sounds. This ceremonial display is thought to strengthen the bond between family members.

The status of male geese doesn't depend on individual size, but rather on the size of the family.

Males of larger, more close-knit families are generally more aggressive and higher in rank. Canada Geese mate for life, and will seek a new mate only when the original mate has died.