
Why Are There Still So Many Geese in New England? Shouldn’t They Be Flying South?
Last weekend, in the single-degree digits, I was driving through the Portsmouth, New Hampshire traffic circle when I saw about a hundred Geese.
I was appalled.
Why are there still Geese in New England in the winter?
I said to myself, and out loud because I was in shock, "Hey, you guys better get going south, all of your other Geese friends already left..."
Really, I was left wondering why they were still here...and there were hundreds of them out and about that day all over New England.
Do all Geese fly south in the winter?
No.
Wait, what? NO?! I was told my whole life that Geese fly south to get warm in the winter...that's just not true now?
According to a Geese Peace article, early in the 20th century, many migratory Geese were captured. The captured Geese would have their flight feathers clipped and sometimes added weight to their feet.
These Geese were set up as decoys - to attract other Geese to local ponds and waterways to hunt.
When those captured or "decoy" Geese made babies, they did not necessarily have the need to migrate.
Why do Geese not travel south?
Geese nest where they are born. That first round of Geese who were captured as "decoys" did not travel to nest. So their descendants followed in suit - stay where they are.
AKA not traveling to nest.
So when you see a group of Geese flying in a V in New England, they may not be on their way to the Carolinas...they may just be taking a stroll to look for their next meal.
And if you love birds, you have to keep scrolling to see the most beautiful pictures of birds spotted in New Hampshire:
The Birds of New Hampshire
2 Million Dollar Birdhouse, Rustic Castle, For Sale in New Durham, New Hampshire
Gallery Credit: Logan