Canada Goose Quick Facts
Height/Weight22" to 48"
3-4 lbs. to 24lbs.
Life Span
Generally 10-25 years; some instances 40+
Flight Speed
20 to 55mph
Range
All fifty states
rural to urban areas
Food
Graze on marsh grass, pond weeds, new grain and corn
Habitat
Grassy fields near water
By definition, Canada geese are not classified as pest birds and are afforded protection by Federal & State agencies. Nonetheless, Canada Geese are increasingly becoming the scourge of suburbia as their numbers have grown in the past decade from only a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of these birds. In fact, the familiar V shaped squadron of honking geese heading south is becoming a rare sight. Country Clubs and business parks offer pristinely manicured lawns and ponds providing an ideal habitat and effectively modifying their migration cycle. Geese are very opportunistic and easily exploit the new 'easy living' conditions found in an urban environment.
Damage
Geese can cause damage to agricultural crops year round, either by trampling or consumption. Aesthetic damage to suburban lawns, golf courses, etc., is incalculable. Geese are also a health hazard- fouling reservoirs and ponds. A larger threat is air safety. Geese are one of the main birds involved in airline bird strikes worldwide.
Control
Non-migratory Canada geese are difficult to remove. Once established, immediate corrective landscaping and behavioral modification is imperative: Remove cover shrubbery; use herbicides to eliminate aquatic vegetation; and reduce fertilizer, especially around pond area, to make grass less nutritionally attractive. Several visual scare products like the Goose Guard and Flash Tape combined with ReJeX-iT taste deterrent should be employed as soon as the birds enter the area, varying in location and type. For more established flocks audio scare devices like Zon Guns, Scare Streamers, the Bird-Gard or Bird Squawker units that project a variety of sounds through several speaker locations in a random pattern should be set up at strategically placed intervals. All systems require constant re-enforcement and should be relocated frequently, especially the Goose Guard units to remain a convincing threat to the birds. Physical barriers such as overhead Gridwire & 4" mesh StealthNet can be extremely effective barriers but are site specific. These grids can be installed above water surface to prevent landing. Fencing made of Gridwire (.96mm) provides a discrete barrier to dissuade geese from entering property (especially from water areas) and can be electrified for increased effectiveness. Wire fencing applications should begin approximately 1’ off the ground with successive strands approximately 1’ above the last to a height of at least three feet. Four inch mesh StealthNet with 1/2” reflective Flash Tape hanging from it can also be utilized above and around ponds and grassy areas.
Nesting
Nesting sites are typically near water with protective vegetation in close proximity. Planter boxes on high rise office building balconies in campus like settings are quickly becoming a nesting site of choice. Geese are extremely aggressive, posting sentinels at nesting and grazing sites. Defense of nests can many times result in injury to people or pets who venture too close.
Breeding
Female geese usually lay one egg every other day during the 25 day spring mating season. The nest is abandoned a few days after hatching. Canada geese are monogamous for life, but will re-mate upon the death of their mate.
Cycles
Non-migratory or residential geese, once established, prefer feeding at the nesting site, but will often fly long distances to and from favorite feeding grounds. Some feeding may occur during moonlit nights.
Geese can cause damage to agricultural crops year round, either by trampling or consumption. Aesthetic damage to suburban lawns, golf courses, etc., is incalculable. Geese are also a health hazard- fouling reservoirs and ponds. A larger threat is air safety. Geese are one of the main birds involved in airline bird strikes worldwide.
Control
Non-migratory Canada geese are difficult to remove. Once established, immediate corrective landscaping and behavioral modification is imperative: Remove cover shrubbery; use herbicides to eliminate aquatic vegetation; and reduce fertilizer, especially around pond area, to make grass less nutritionally attractive. Several visual scare products like the Goose Guard and Flash Tape combined with ReJeX-iT taste deterrent should be employed as soon as the birds enter the area, varying in location and type. For more established flocks audio scare devices like Zon Guns, Scare Streamers, the Bird-Gard or Bird Squawker units that project a variety of sounds through several speaker locations in a random pattern should be set up at strategically placed intervals. All systems require constant re-enforcement and should be relocated frequently, especially the Goose Guard units to remain a convincing threat to the birds. Physical barriers such as overhead Gridwire & 4" mesh StealthNet can be extremely effective barriers but are site specific. These grids can be installed above water surface to prevent landing. Fencing made of Gridwire (.96mm) provides a discrete barrier to dissuade geese from entering property (especially from water areas) and can be electrified for increased effectiveness. Wire fencing applications should begin approximately 1’ off the ground with successive strands approximately 1’ above the last to a height of at least three feet. Four inch mesh StealthNet with 1/2” reflective Flash Tape hanging from it can also be utilized above and around ponds and grassy areas.
Nesting
Nesting sites are typically near water with protective vegetation in close proximity. Planter boxes on high rise office building balconies in campus like settings are quickly becoming a nesting site of choice. Geese are extremely aggressive, posting sentinels at nesting and grazing sites. Defense of nests can many times result in injury to people or pets who venture too close.
Breeding
Female geese usually lay one egg every other day during the 25 day spring mating season. The nest is abandoned a few days after hatching. Canada geese are monogamous for life, but will re-mate upon the death of their mate.
Cycles
Non-migratory or residential geese, once established, prefer feeding at the nesting site, but will often fly long distances to and from favorite feeding grounds. Some feeding may occur during moonlit nights.
Gull
Quick Facts
Height/Weight
18”-26”/25oz-38oz
Life Span
8-10 years in the
wild and up to 30 years in captivity
Flight Speed
15 to 38 mph
Range
Near large
waterways
Food
Scavenger –
eats fish, crab, insects, forages at dumps, harbors and waste sites
Habitat
On the ground
along safe,
secluded areas
Gulls and other related sea birds exist in great numbers along coastal areas, large lakes and rivers. A subset of long winged swimming birds, there are 45 species of Gulls. Twenty species are resident (nesting) in North America and four are visitors (non-nesting). An intelligent bird, they will carry mussels and clams high in the air and drop them on hard surfaces to get to the soft meat inside. Gulls have the ability to drink saltwater and freshwater, thanks to a pair of salt removing glands above their nostrils. They are good swimmers who can walk or run agilely on land. Gulls are scavenging birds; they will eat everything from dead fish and garbage to field mice and insects. Gulls enjoy protection at the federal, state and local levels.
Damage
Gulls can be a nuisance in coastal areas, particularly at dump sites, piers and harbors. Flocks of gulls often create hazardous conditions to low flying aircraft. Large buildup of droppings will lead to structural damage from the uric acid. Boats, streetlights and buildings are just a few of the items damaged from excessive gull droppings. Furthermore, their droppings can also pose a health risk.
Control
Gridwire systems and large 4" mesh StealthNet will deny access to large open areas.Bird-Flite spikes, 5" Bird Coil, and Bird-Shock electrical track are very effective on ledges depending on the level of bird pressure. The Daddi Long Legs is a great product to dissuade gulls from landing on silos, street lights, A/C units & large flat rooftops. For feeding sites such as dumps, a wide variety of audio/visual products like the Avikite or Flying OspreyZon Guns, Bird Bombs and Bird Bombs and Screamers, or and noisemakers like high tech multiple and random sound distress call units like the Bird-Gard, Squawker or BirdWailer units should be combined with exclusionary products such as Gridwire systems or 4" StealthNet.
Nesting
Gulls build basic nests on the ground in safe open areas. The nest often consists of grass, seaweed and some sticks. They nest in colonies on sandy or gravely areas near the shore.
Breeding
These birds have one brood a year with an average of three eggs. Incubation takes 20 to 24 days with a six week fledgling period before the young leave the nest. The eggs are brown, green or blue with blotches of black, brown or gray.
Cycles
Some species are migratory. Gulls need open water and secluded breeding areas. Because of this, Northern Gulls will fly south away from frozen lakes and rivers in the winter, while southern gulls stay put year round. They have a distinct springtime breeding season. The young take two years to mature and display adult plumage.
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