The Canada goose (Branta canadensis) is a large waterfowl common
at Fermilab. It is easily identified as a large, plump bird with
a long black neck, white chin strap, buff and brown body, and
black legs. It is the most common and best known goose in North
America. The males and females look alike with the males being
somewhat larger. These powerful long distance flyers range over
the entire North American continent when migrating. A casual
observer will often see the flocks grazing in the grass. A mowed
lawn around a pond has fresh grass shoots and a wide area of
visibility for the eating flock. It is easy to see sentinels
posted amongst the eating geese. There are always a few with
their heads up, keeping watch. Along with grass, geese eat
aquatic plants and even small water animals like snails. During
spring and summer they eat grasshoppers, other insects, and
earthworms. With the advent of farming, geese added domestic
grains to their diets and now are frequently seen gleaning corn
in harvested fields. Gee