I noticed during the past two days that the Canada geese in our area are
beginning to form flocks and move around locally. I believe that it is
still a bit early for the actual molt migration, but the non-breeders and
failed breeders are beginning to flock and likely attracting others in
preparation for their northern flight where they will molt their feathers.
This usually takes place when nearly all of the young have hatched and
likely allows failed breeders to join the flocks. The only clutches that
remain to hatch in the southern part of the state are re-nesting attempts
at this time and some of the early hatched young are nearly half grown
already.
I usually see the first movement of molt migrants around early June with
others migrating over the next two weeks or so. When geese are moving
about locally they tend to fly only a few hundred feet high, but we will
soon see flocks at higher altitude and heading north, which is an
indication of the molt migration.
Nesting pairs are very quiet at this time of year since they don't want to
draw attention to their young, particularly when they are feeding in the
uplands. The honking we hear at this time of year are the non-breeders
that are flocking up with others.
Bill
--
Bill Volkert
Naturalist
www.billvolkert
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