Goose Watching on Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is known to be a bird watching paradise. Did you know that geese would fly thousands of miles in winter just to experience the wonderful springs of Vancouver Island? They are pretty good fliers and spend a lot of time above the clouds. As a very good example, based on a report by CTV News, researchers from Vancouver Island University are surprised that a Canada goose they tagged five years ago has been found over 3,000 kilometers distant in Chicago. In October, a lady walking through Chicago's Lincoln Park recognized the tagged geese.
Geese (plural form of Goose) are a waterfowl family that is closely linked to ducks and swans, and they are mostly migratory. In other words, they appear seasonally on Vancouver Island. In the Northern Hemisphere, geese are most numerous in temperate areas. Geese, especially Canadian geese, abound on Vancouver Island throughout the winter months. As migrating birds return north in the spring, this number rises. Their unique coloration makes them easy to spot. The Canada Goose is counted as one of the most flexible birds on Vancouver Island, nesting in various environments ranging from forests to open grasslands, and rough terrain to flat plains, as long as there is permanent water nearby. It frequently builds its nest in the nests of large raptors (eagles and ospreys), on other natural platforms, and on man-made buildings. To now more about Canada geese subspecies and other geese species on Vancouver Island stay with us!

Brant geese, also known as Brant or Black Brant, migrate along the west coast of North America in the spring, stopping in the Pacific Northwest. Thousands of birds converge on coastal beaches and flats to eat on eelgrass, making their presence on Vancouver Island a reason for celebration. Every April, the municipalities of Parksville and Qualicum Beach celebrate the Brant Festival. Brants are a particular type of geese since they are a "coastal goose" species.

Also known as "the laughing goose", despite its name, this goose is not a white-fronted goose. It gets its name from a white stripe on the back of the bill. They feature large irregular black bands on their belly and are greyish-brown in colour. The adult "white-front" has greyish brown wings, head, neck, back, and rump, with no distinguishing plumage. The white patch around the neck and forehead (from whence it gets its name) may be seen up close, as well as the black, uneven markings on the breast and abdomen

With a black head and neck, pale cheek patches, a light tan to cream breast, and a brown back, the Canada goose is well-known and widely distributed on Vancouver Island. It breeds in solitary couples or small groups in a broad range of habitats in North America, from arctic tundra to northern and temperate woods and grasslands to around 35°N, as well as in western Greenland. According to BC Breeding Bird Atlas, Canada geese abound on Vancouver Island throughout the winter months. As migrating birds return north in the spring, this number rises. Their unique coloration makes them easy to spot. There are five Canada goose subspecies that are possible to see n Vancouver Island:

Although they favour low-lying locations with plenty of open water, Canadian geese are adaptable to various habitats. When they're breeding, they'll frequently build their nest on an island to give more protection from predators. These birds have made a great transition to city life which resulted in raising Canada geese population; even some people would search for a solution to get rid of Canada geese, no matter what the type is. Their urban population is increasing. Some birds have lost the desire to migrate and spend the rest of their lives in cities. According to The Atlas of Breeding Birds of British Columbia, the Vancouver Canada Goose is a coastal dweller from southwest Alaska to northern Vancouver Island. Northern British Columbia is home to the Lesser Canada Goose, while the Dusky Canada Goose migrates across the province, which means you may occasionally encounter them on Vancouver Island during any other wildlife watching trip such as whale watching and bear watching. On the other hand, Brant is the spring guest on Vancouver Island. To welcome them to the Island, there is a festival named after these geese every year. Every April, the municipalities of Parkville and Qualicum Beach conduct a Brant Festival. A few sightings when the Brant geese were feasting on spawning herrings happened in Campbell River too.

When is the geese season on Vancouver Island? Well, to answer that question, based on the geese migration patterns, the best season for goose watching on Vancouver Island is spring. The geese will graze and relax for a month or longer. They talk to each other, always on the lookout for Bald Eagle assaults. Then, they take off, a few at a time, on the next phase of their arduous yearly voyage. Canadian Geese abound on Vancouver Island throughout the winter months. As migrating birds return north in the spring, this number rises. Their unique coloration makes them easy to spot.