Retention ponds attract big influx of geese to city

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In the '70s, I moved to Charleswood and, on one of my first mornings there, awoke to the characteristic honking of a Canada goose outside my window. Now on virtually any morning or evening, especially in the late summer, throughout the fall and in the spring, I can walk outside my south St. Vital home and hear geese honking no more than a kilometre away.

And I am sure we have all seen Canada geese throughout the city on boulevards, retention ponds, ditches, parking lots, parks and nature centres -- almost anywhere else green grass is found. Provincial statistics indicate that fall numbers of Canada geese within Winnipeg can exceed 120,000.

So what has happened? Why are these birds seemingly so attracted to Winnipeg's urban habitats? And how are these human-altered environments apparently affording geese the requirements that they seek during migration?

A key reason for this increase in Canada geese has been the establishment of storm-water retention ponds in our expanding suburbs. These ponds were created to reduce the risk of flooding in residential areas due to heavy rain events in spring, summer and fall. The ponds are maintained at stabilized levels throughout much of the summer, but may swell after heavy rains.

The ponds appear to represent a preferred wetland habitat for Canada geese and are apparently highly attractive to these birds during their spring and fall migrations. On some of these ponds and in other wetland areas, Canada geese also have begun to nest and produce broods, resulting in the species being prevalent through much of the year.

Storm-water retention ponds often provide the best of all worlds for Canada geese. They are generally wide-open areas, with unobstructed viewing horizons that enable geese to clearly observe approaching predators. And predators of geese within the city, other than the occasional dog or cat that might venture over for a look, are generally non-existent.

The ponds are also situated in residential areas and therefore border properties with manicured lawns and other vegetation, constituting a readily available, preferred and safe food supply. In addition, some urban residents seem to enjoy the opportunity to commune with nature, albeit in a highly human-altered environment, and will feed geese at these locations.

And finally geese are not subjected to any hunting pressure within the confines of the city due to regulations established by the province.

Although Canada geese have seemingly learned to coexist with humans in Winnipeg, their attractiveness is varied across the urban residential population.

Geese can damage personal properties, restrict pets' ability to undertake normal outdoor activities, leave large amounts of waste behind that is unsightly and may harbour disease organisms and create significant noise pollution.

The province and city have provided a variety of options for local residents to consider if Canada geese are becoming problematic in their areas, recognizing that quick-fix solutions are highly unlikely. Some suggestions include restricting feeding of geese, establishing barrier fences, following specific lawn-care guidelines and setting up a range of scaring devices.

Likely of more importance, however, would be the development of "tailored" storm-water retention ponds that are not as attractive to large numbers of migrating Canada geese. In newer suburban residential developments, such as the Royalwood in south Winnipeg, Ladco Company Limited has contracted with Native Plant Solutions, a local environmental consulting organization, to develop prairie wetland complexes in their subdivisions that are not preferred by Canada geese.

This forward-looking strategy has provided an ecosystem-management approach to suburban development in our city that is clearly at the cutting edge of urban planning. And furthermore, these new developments are ensuring that sustainable development is taking place, so that the environmental, economic and social needs of our current generation are not affecting the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

A win-win situation for all involved.

Rick Baydack is a professor in the Department of Environment and Geography at the University of Manitoba.

The Learning Curve is an occasional column written by local academics who are experts in their fields. It is open to any educator from Winnipeg's post-secondary institutions. Send 600-word submissions and a mini bio to thelearningcurve@freepress.mb.ca.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 30, 2009 B2