As the weather starts to turn, we can expect to see our friends from Canada passing through. Canada Geese start flocking in August. They are most active in mid-October as Geese from Ontario join those that summer in Wisconsin as they search for food. Kent Van Horn with the Wisconsin DNR says the flocks serve several purposes. "If you'll notice them out in the fields, what you'll see is that there will always be a couple of birds looking around for danger or predators while the others feed," says Van Horn.
Then there is their famous "V" formation, which allows for more aerodynamic flight. "If you were able to watch a flock for a long period of time, what you'll see is that lead goose will get tired and move back into one of the wings of the V, and one of the others will take over the lead," Van Horn explains. Geese can fly hundreds of miles each day. They're grazers that move south as they run out of food. Depending on the harshness of the winter, they might only end up in northern Illinois.
