Habitat
The snow goose
breeds on sub arctic and arctic tundra, near ponds or streams
and winters in coastal saltwater marshes and bays, wet grasslands, freshwater marshes, and fields.
Diet
The snow goose feeds in
water-logged soil or shallow water
and
eats variety of plant species and parts, from aquatic plants to grasses and grain.
Life Cycle
Snow goose pairs form in the spring. It nests in colonies. The female lays 2-5 white eggs in a scrape in the ground lined with dried plant parts and down. The male guards the nest while the female incubates the eggs. The gosling hatch in 22-25 days. The goslings leave the nest within two days of hatching and can swim and feed themselves. The goslings stay with their parents through the first winter and migrate with them in the fall and then again in the spring back to the breeding ground. Male and female pairs usually mate for life.
Behavior
Snow geese migrate in large flocks and fly during both night and day. The rest and feed on marshes and other wetlands during their migration. They usually return to the same nesting area each year.
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