• Editor’s Note: This article was written by Valerie Blaine, nature programs manager for the Forest Preserve District of Kane County.

You don’t even have to be a “birder” to identify this bird! It’s a Canada Goose, of course. No doubt you could even identify it blindfolded — just a few “honks” would give it away. Both visibly and audibly, the big noisy Canada Goose is easy to identify.

The Canada Goose is made up of at least 11 subspecies, or races. All of the subspecies share that goose gestalt: long black neck on a brownish body, white cheek patch topped by a black head.

To differentiate the subspecies, size is the usual guide. Some of the small races average six pounds and have four foot wingspans while large races may weigh as much as 20 pounds and have wingspans of at least five and a half feet. The smaller races hail from the northern parts of Canada; the larger ones are found farther south. Darker forms live in the west. Lighter subspecies are easterners.

Canada Geese hang out in mixed crowds at different times of year. A variety of subspecies may congregate in the same area, especially during migration. If you scan a pond crowded with geese, you may spot big ganders mingling with smaller ones. Some subspecies in these mixed flocks may be moving on, others may be staying for the winter, some may be year-long residents.

The subspecies known as the Giant Canada Goose was thought to be extinct until 1962, when Dr. Harold Hanson of the Illinois Natural History Survey discovered remnant populations in upstate New York and Minnesota. Subsequent legislation and habitat restoration revived the numbers of the Giant Canada Goose, and its recovery has been a huge success story in wildlife management. Not only did Giant Canada Goose populations recover, they skyrocketed.

The Canada Goose tops the charts on the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, year after year. During this annual census, birders head out to designated areas on a particular day, and count all the individuals of each bird species they can find. Last winter, 4,108 “Canadas” were counted in Kane County, representing over forty percent of the total birds counted. That’s a lot of birds.

The Canada Goose is one of our more challenging wildlife neighbors. Some people consider them a nuisance, and flocks of geese have posed a safety hazard near airports. Part of the problem is that geese like the same habitat we do — large expanses of mowed turf grass suit them fine. Another aspect is the lack of natural predators, which itself has to do with habitat.

In order to manage Canada Geese – or any wildlife population – we need to know a lot about their natural history, their habits, and their ecological role. The Wildlife Research Lab of Southern Illinois University is conducting research in the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area – in fact, right here in Kane County. The investigation will involve capturing geese, fitting and re-sighting neck collars, recording data, sampling DNA, and conducting habitat and behavioral observations.

To learn more about this fascinating study, come to a special presentation by research assistant Kendra Slown from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, at Hickory Knolls Discovery Center in St. Charles. Advanced registration is required for this “Learn from the Experts” program. This program is for adults age 18 and older, and has a registration fee of $10. Call 630-444-3190 or email programs@kaneforest.com to register.

About the Kane County Forest Preserve District

The Forest Preserve District of Kane County acquires, holds and maintains land to preserve natural and historic resources, habitats, flora and fauna. The district restores, restocks, protects and preserves open space for the education, recreation and pleasure of Kane County citizens. For more information, visit the district’s website or find them on social media via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Also, sign up for the quarterly TreeLine Newsletter.