It’s summer and there is an abundant number of Canadian Geese roosting on the U of A’s campuses. From the flock that frequent the fields of South Campus, to the persistent pair that call the Arts/Business Quad their home, to the rogue Quad Goose itself, these odd birds seem to be everywhere. But what exactly is it that they… do?
Geese enjoy their nights on the water, taking turns sleeping and watching out for predators. Some geese are known to frequent the waters of Hawrelak Park which, knowing the lethargic nature of the above pair in business quad, is likely where they originate from.
And if you’re wondering why they always travel in pairs (the Quad Goose being an obvious exception to this trend), it’s because geese are typically monogamous and tend to only have one partner for their roughly 25 year lifespan.
Why they choose the U of A as their preferred feeding ground isn’t entirely clear, but the fields of grass do handsomely satiate their mostly herbivorous diet, the human presence wards of any larger predators, plus there are several water features nearby for them to drink from.
But mostly they’re just quirky little creatures that keep to themselves and lounge around all day. So when you see them, give them a wide berth and try not to be jealous of the fact that they get to take annual vacations to escape the winter.
