Geese Facts

While the American Birding Association lists eighteen species, only ten get listed as year round breeding species.

Most people rightly associate the genus Branta with North American geese. With the exception of the Southwest, the Canada Goose inhabits pond and lake areas across the continent.

The Nene Goose (Branta sandvicensis), Hawaii's state bird, also gets classified as an endangered species.

Hunting contributed to early population declines. Predation by introduced mammals and habitat destruction caused population levels to drop to almost unsustainable levels.

Captive breeding programs have been instituted as part of the recovery program. Population levels will be measured, with the recovery plan suggests that if all goes well, the species could be down-listed to threatened in 2019.

The eye-patch and pink legs make the Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus) easily identified.

Native to the Middle-East and North Africa, they subsequently were introduced into Europe and North America.

While not uncommon in North America, they occasionally make an appearance in areas they are not usually seen, often creating a small stir.

Growing over five feet in length and weighing up to twenty pounds, the Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) may sound like a large bird, however, in swan terms it is small.

As the name suggests, it breeds in the tundra of northern Canada, near open water. Both parents care for the young during the short summer season before they all migrate south for the winter.

Areas along both coasts, along with areas of West Texas serve as the swan's principle wintering grounds.

They are one of three native swan species, and the Cygnus genus is also home to the mythical, but very real, black swan.

© 2010-2011 Patricia A. Michaels