Date: 02/05/1999

Number: 1

Canada geese mating on Thoreau Lake. This usually does not occur until mid-late February but last year they started on 1/25/98 and this year is very early too. Wish I had more accurate data on years past but this is my observation after working here 11 years. Onset of mating usually follows a warm spell (February "thaw" here in Central Ohio) by about three days. The change in behavior - from calm, quiet geese to honking, fighting, mating geese - is pretty dramatic and one of my looked-for "signs of spring". Information on the mating display is available in Stoke's books on Bird Behavior.
Sarah Dalton, naturalist, Blendon Woods Metro Park

Columbus, OH

Latitude: 40.1 Longitude: -83

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