Canada geese in Green Bay, October 23, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
SUAMICO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — For many, it’s a sure sign of spring.
New families of Canada geese, with goslings now in tow, are on the move in places all around Northeast Wisconsin.
That includes Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve in Suamico.
At one of the wetlands impoundments, Jim Bleier, and his wife Gail Bleier, are doing a little birding Thursday morning.
“We come out here, 3, 4, 5 times a week. And I grab my coffee, come out here, and look at the geese, and any other birds that come out here. And there’s actually been quite a few,” said Jim Bleier, Green Bay.
Bleier says he first noticed the goslings at the preserve, about a week ago.
“There’s a couple different groups of them. There’s seven that are in one group, and there’s another five or six, over there,” he said.
“We’re starting to see some goslings hanging right here, in front of the nature center, and other areas of the park. So, they’re really nice, and cute, and yellow right now,” said Jason Petrella, Brown County Parks Program and Natural Resource Manager.
Jason Petrella says the goslings will keep their yellow coat for a few weeks. In the meantime, he has some advice.
“The only thing we do ask, is that people do not feed the geese out here. Don’t feed any of the wild animals out here. We want them to kind of stay wild. Don’t want them used to people out here. As soon as we start feeding them, especially by cars, they start associating cars with food, and that can cause some problems,” said Petrella.
Petrella says it’s also important to view nature, including Canada geese, from a safe spot. Jim Bleier agrees.
“We give them their space. You don’t want to upset mom and dad. So just watch them from a distance. You can get fairly close, but maintain a safe distance, just not upset them.
Experts say the geese will stay in the area for the season.
They are expected to be able to fly in a couple months, before migrating south for the winter, as a family.
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