Skip to main content Skip to navigation
Home
Today's Show: Bird Sound Types and Qualities Part III
Swainson's Thrush
Listen In
  • Today's Show
  • Listen
    • BirdNote Daily
    • Bring Birds Back
    • Threatened
    • BirdNote Presents
    • Sound Escapes
    • How to Listen
  • Explore
    • Field Notes
    • Sights & Sounds
    • Birdwatching
    • Resources for Educators
  • How to Help Birds
    • At Home
    • In Your Community
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • The Team
    • Board Members
    • DEI/IDEA Commitment
    • Partners
    • For Radio Stations
    • Funding
    • FAQs
    • Support BirdNote
  • Donate

Canada Geese Defend Their Territory

June 29, 2011
Look out for these birds when they're on their nest!
Listen Now
Subscribe
  • Share This:
  • Share to Facebook
  • Share to Twitter
  • Share to Email
Canada Geese Expand Image
© Linda G. Evans

Usually sociable, Canada Geese are highly territorial during the breeding season. When faced with interlopers, nesting birds wave their heads from side to side and up and down, honking unceasingly, determined to drive the other birds off. Amidst the honking, you may hear a sound that scientists have named the "snore" call. When the interlopers finally begin their retreat, the resident pair follows closely, fanning the water with their wings. It's a long day for nesting geese!

  • Full Transcript
  • Credits
BirdNote®
Canada Geese Defend their Territory

Written by Chris Peterson

This is BirdNote!
[Dawn Song recorded at Earth Sanctuary]
Return to spring for a moment where it’s dawn at the edge of a pond. A pair of Mallards glides across the smooth water. Mist rises in the cool air. Small birds begin to sing, asserting their territories and advertising for mates. 
  [Dawn Song recorded at Earth Sanctuary]
A pair of Canada Geese keeps a watchful eye from hummocks across the pond where they’re nesting.
Suddenly, another pair of geese flies in, looking for a site to call theirs. [Begin cacophony of geese calls G1T19] Though they land at a distance, the first pair is in no mood for interlopers. With necks outstretched, they charge the newcomers. [Threat calls, braying]  Usually sociable, Canada Geese are highly territorial during the breeding season. The four face off, waving their heads from side to side, up and down, all the while accelerating the clamor.  Amidst the honking you can hear a sound that scientists have named the “snore” call.
[G2T1 Canada Geese honking]
After several minutes the interlopers begin their retreat, though the resident pair follows closely, fanning the water with their wings.
[The foursome continued]
Then comes another pair. 
[Canada Geese, continued honking]
Looks like a long day ahead for the geese that got there first…
For BirdNote, I’m Michael Stein.
                        ###
[Dawn Song recorded at Earth Sanctuary 4-26-11]
Spring dawn song recorded 4/26/11 at Earth Sanctuary, Whidbey Island, WA by C. Peterson.
Producer: John Kessler
Executive Producer: Chris Peterson
© 2011 Tune In to Nature.org     June 2011   Narrator: Michael Stein

ID# CAGO-03-2011-06-24

Chris Peterson
Writer
Michael Stein
Narrator
Linda G. Evans
Photographer
Tags: nesting

Related Resources

Learn more about Canada Geese at Cornell's All About Birds

More About These Birds

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

Branta canadensis

Sights & Sounds

Related Field Notes

September 18, 2019

Nesting Marsh Wren

By Gregg Thompson
Male Marsh Wrens will build several--as many fifteen--dome shaped shells in the reeds to woo fema
June 20, 2019

Great Blue Heron nest - it's getting crowded!

By Gregg Thompson
This Great Blue Heron nest is bursting with life!

Birds connect us with the joy and wonder of nature. By telling vivid, sound-rich stories about birds and the challenges they face, BirdNote inspires listeners to care about the natural world – and take steps to protect it.

Support BirdNote

  • About
  • Annual Report
  • Contact
  • Science Advisory Council
  • Pitch Page
  • Sights & Sounds
Sign up for our newsletter!
  • BirdNote on Facebook
  • BirdNote on Twitter
  • BirdNote on Instagram

Copyright 2022. All rights reserved.

  • Privacy Policy