A study of Canada geese, Branta canadensis , nesting on islands in southeastern Alberta

Canada goose clutches situated on islands in Dowling Lake and Lake Newell, Alberta, were checked from laying to hatching. Egg-laying intervals averaged 1.87 days and incubation periods 26.8 days. The distribution of nests showed a significant deviation from randomness in the direction of uniform spa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Journal of Zoology
Main Author: Vermeer, Kees
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1970
Subjects:
Animal Science and Zoology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Canada
Newell
Dowling
Branta canadensis
Canada Goose
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z70-039
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z70-039
Description
Summary:Canada goose clutches situated on islands in Dowling Lake and Lake Newell, Alberta, were checked from laying to hatching. Egg-laying intervals averaged 1.87 days and incubation periods 26.8 days. The distribution of nests showed a significant deviation from randomness in the direction of uniform spacing. Causes of extensive hatching failure at Dowling Lake were predation and desertion. Predation by coyotes was facilitated by low water levels. A preference for nesting on islands appears to be a mechanism to counteract mammalian predation.

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