Canada Geese mating – Nikon D300, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Officially it isn’t spring yet but the Canada Geese here in the Salt Lake Valley don’t seem to be paying much attention to our human calendars at all and have begun their mating season. A few days ago at a pond near where I live I saw mating Canada Geese and Mallards and I was able to get images of the geese. Canada Geese may be common but I don’t like to pass on taking images of common birds. After all what is common for my location isn’t common at all in other parts of the world.
The image above shows the gander mating with the female while he has a firm grasp on some of the feathers on the female’s neck.
Pair of Canada Geese after mating in a pond in northern Utah – Nikon D300, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
The whole mating process only took a few seconds which is probably good for the female since she was completely submerged at times. In the image above there feathers are still ruffled where the male has grasped the female’s neck and the gander’s bill still has some of her feathers in it.
Canada Goose gander – Nikon D300, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
The female Canada Goose bathed in a deeper section of the pond while the male paddled over to the shore, splashed for a bit then stood up and flapped his wings near a Common Coot that was preening on the edge of the pond. Yes, it sure looks like spring has sprung in this section of Utah.
But winter isn’t quite over yet and like these Canada Geese winter often ignores the human calendar and there may still be more snow on the way before the warmth of spring settles into the valley.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my Canada Goose photos plus facts and information about this species.
I once saw a pair of Black Swans mating and it’s one of the most beautiful spectacles I’ve seen in my life. These swans were captive, but even so they go through the same rituals as if they were in the wild. They have this biological clock within them. The image of the geese reminded me of that.
great captures, Mia. Look at that guy, showing off.
Thanks, MIa..I hope I fixed my email…. As I said before about the mating ducks…once again, it’s the female that really gets screwed!
Lovely images, as always. And your common birds would indeed be exotic here.
They looks very happy, beautiful pictures 🙂
The key is to see our common birds in a whole new light with fresh eyes. This does it, Mia! 🙂
I follow a group in the UK on Twitter who reports unusual birds in their area. They went on and on for weeks about a Ring-billed Gull that was found there! Just goes to show, one area’s “common” is another area’s “rare.” 🙂
Do most of water fowl mate in the water? It’s probably safer for them there…less vulnerable.
Safer for one of them anyway. I do feel for the submerged females. Pecked and half-drowned isn’t my idea of romance. Brief or otherwise.
Lucky birds lol.
Nice shots, Mia. We still have winter up here in Montana. 0 degrees this morning.