Some Aspects of Reproduction of Captive Canada Geese

Abstract

An attempt was made to gather basic information on the behavior, nesting density, and productivity of a captive Canada goose (Branta canadensis maxima) flock in south-central Michigan. The 45.5-acre study area included 28.2 acres of land, a small stream, and an 8.3-acre impoundment. During the 1959 nesting season 110 pairs of Canada geese were studied. Territorial behavior, relationships with unmated geese, and re-mating of widowed geese are discussed. Geese preferred islands, floating platforms, and ditchbanks for nesting. Desertion of nest sites was believed due primarily to overcrowding. Average clutch size for the period 1953-61 was 5.6 eggs. Seventy percent of the geese renested after the first clutch was taken for artificial incubation. No significant difference was found between sizes of first and second clutches. Hatching success for incubator and naturally hatched eggs was 37.6 and 66.1 percent, respectively. Reproductive success of birds induced to lay two clutches was depressed by low incubator-hatching rates. Remedial suggestions for management and future studies are presented. The purpose of this report is to document the breeding history and success of a flock of Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) maintained at the Mason Game Farm, Mason, Michigan. Birds from this flock were used to start new resident flocks in suitable breeding areas in the state. The initial flock comprised three wild, free-flying pairs which were captured at the farm in the spring of 1920, and brought off four young that spring. All were retained at the farm and were the nucleus for the present breeding flock. In 1951, several unrelated Canada geese were acquired from the Seney National Wildlife Refuge in northern Michigan. These birds were from originally semidomesticated stock (Nelson 1963). An additional 15 geese were introduced into the breeding stock in 1957 by an individual gift. In 1959 most of the breeding stock of 110 pairs was composed of birds hatched and retained at the farm. The breeders acquired since 1953 were wing-clipped annually; geese acquired ear1 Present address: Montana Fish and Game Department, Great Falls. 894 lier were pinioned. All geese were legbanded at the time of acquisition. Grateful acknowledgment is extended to the Game Section of the Michigan Department of Conservation for making the study area available and for permitting the review and analysis of game farm records for publication. Dr. Ken Pruess, University of Nebraska, is acknowledged for his review of the statistical methods employed. Some of these data were used in a thesis presented by the senior author to Michigan State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science de-