Open AccessCanada geese ( Branta canadensis ) nesting on elevated structures in urban Indiana, USA
Author(s) -
Shearer David J.,
Carter Timothy C.,
O'Neal Benjamin J.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 63
ISSN - 2045-7758
DOI - 10.1002/ece3.8735
Subject(s) - branta , nest (protein structural motif) , nesting (process) , geography , wildlife , goose , predation , ecology , population , disturbance (geology) , wildlife refuge , biology , demography , materials science , metallurgy , paleontology , biochemistry , sociology
Abstract The Canada goose ( Branta canadensis ) population has radically changed over the past 60 years—from once being extirpated in the state of Indiana to the current level of approximately 113,000. High urban densities have resulted in persistent human–wildlife conflicts and novel interactions between geese and their physical environment. Canada geese typically choose nest sites that are on the ground or slightly elevated sites such as muskrat lodge, but we report observations of Canada geese nesting on rooftops 2.6–12.2 m above ground level in central Indiana. These observations suggest that alternative, unpredicted nesting sites are being chosen over more traditional sites, in a likely attempt to reduce risks of disturbance and predation. This atypical nest‐site selection may pose new management challenges, but further research is needed.