In the natural world all animals have to take precautions when raising their young. Birds are no exception, and geese have many tactics to protect their families. Most people know they can be territorial and aggressive, but they rarely see the nest they are protecting. Hens lay on the nest once all the eggs are laid and incubate them for an average of 30 days. How does the hen not get noticed? Camouflage. Canada geese may not seem like they blend into their environment when they are all over the place but they do. The dull browns and greys on their body blur into the background and the black neck and head look like a natural shadow when they lay it flat.
Geese also have a pattern known at countershading. This is when the coloration is light on bottom and dark on top. When looking down at the geese the darker pigments allow them to go unnoticed, and when seen from below the lighter underside blends into the daytime sky. When the camouflage is mixed with a ‘freeze’ reaction, the birds can go unnoticed by the most vigilant predator. Pairs will start to flatten out and hide as they are looking for a safe place to nest. If they see a threat that does not see them, they know it can be a safe home. Although our dogs are highly trained they sometimes do not see the geese when they are hiding. It is up to our handlers to find and direct the border collies to the goose. The handlers and dogs work one on one to bond and build the trust to allow for this kind of direction. This trust built allows us to have a high efficiency in Canada goose control.
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