Decorah goose season is starting to warm up, and the familiar N1 nest has already become the center of attention. On March 5, 2026, several Canada geese stopped by to check out the N1 nest. What started as a simple inspection quickly turned into a noisy contest for space. Honking echoed through the trees as geese chased one another away from the potential nesting site, each bird trying to claim the prime spot.
Scenes like this are often the first real sign that nesting season is getting underway. The activity is especially interesting because the N1 nest has hosted nesting geese before. In fact, last year the first egg of the season here was laid here on March 9, 2025, meaning the calendar is once again lining up with the early stages of goose nesting behavior.
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The video was recorded by earlybird on youtube. The live streaming has been brought to you by Raptor Resource Project.
FAQ
How Many Eggs Do Canada Geese Lay?
Canada geese typically lay between 4 and 7 eggs in a single clutch, although some nests may contain as few as two eggs or as many as nine. The female usually lays one egg per day until the clutch is complete. In many cases, she does not begin full incubation until most or all of the eggs have been laid. This timing helps the eggs hatch closer together so the goslings emerge within a short window and can leave the nest as a group.
How Long Do Canada Goose Eggs Incubate?
Once incubation begins, Canada goose eggs generally take about 25 to 30 days to hatch. During this period the female spends most of her time sitting on the eggs to keep them warm and protected. She will occasionally leave the nest briefly to feed and stretch, but these breaks are usually short. The timing of incubation can vary slightly depending on weather conditions, especially during colder springs.
Do Canada Geese Mate for Life?
Canada geese are well known for forming strong pair bonds, and most pairs remain together for life. These bonds often form when the geese are around two or three years old. If one member of the pair dies, the surviving goose may eventually choose a new mate. The long-term partnership helps the pair work together to defend territory and raise their young successfully each spring.
Do Canada Geese Return to the Same Nest Every Year?
Canada geese often show strong site loyalty, meaning they frequently return to the same nesting area year after year if it proved successful in the past. However, they may not always use the exact same nest structure. Instead, they often return to the same general location where they know conditions are safe and suitable for raising goslings.
This is why nests like the Decorah N1 nest can attract attention from multiple geese. Elevated nests provide excellent visibility and protection from many ground predators, making them highly desirable places to raise a family.
Why Do Geese Fight Over Nesting Sites?
Even though geese often return to familiar nesting areas, prime nesting spots are limited. When several geese arrive at the same location early in the season, they may compete to claim the site. This leads to the loud honking, chasing, and posturing that viewers often see on wildlife cameras.
Eventually one pair will establish control of the nest and defend it against other geese that come too close.
Which Goose Incubates the Eggs?
In Canada geese, the female does almost all of the incubation. She sits on the eggs to keep them warm and turns them regularly during the 25 to 30 day incubation period. The male, known as the gander, usually stays nearby acting as a guard. He keeps watch over the area and will aggressively chase away other geese or potential predators that approach the nest.
Together, this teamwork helps ensure the eggs remain protected until the goslings hatch.
When does goose nesting season usually start in Decorah?
Canada geese in Decorah often begin nesting in early March. At the N1 nest, the first egg last year was laid on March 9, 2025, making early March a common time for nest inspections and territorial behavior.
