\u00a0 \u00a0GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. \u2014 Whether gliding across the calm waters at sunrise, gathering along the shoreline at City Harbor, or flying overhead in their familiar V-shaped formation, Canada geese have become one of the most recognizable sights on Lake Guntersville.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 For many residents and visitors, the birds add to the natural beauty that has made the Tennessee River and Lake Guntersville a favorite destination for outdoor recreation. Birdwatchers, photographers and families often stop to admire the geese as they feed along the shoreline or lead their young through the water during the spring and early summer.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 Canada geese are among North America\u2019s largest waterfowl, standing more than two feet tall with a wingspan that can exceed five feet. They are easily identified by their black heads and necks, distinctive white chinstrap markings, and brownish-gray bodies.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 While many geese migrate each year, a growing number have become year-round residents of north Alabama. The lake\u2019s abundant food sources, mild winters and protected shorelines provide ideal habitat, allowing many flocks to remain throughout every season.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 During spring, visitors may notice family groups, known as broods, swimming together with fuzzy yellow goslings closely following their parents. Adult geese are highly protective during nesting season and may hiss, flap their wings or charge if people or pets get too close.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 Although admired by many, the growing goose population has also created challenges. Large flocks can leave significant amounts of droppings on parks, sidewalks, boat ramps and public beaches, creating maintenance concerns for local governments and park managers. Geese can also become aggressive when fed by people, leading to conflicts with visitors.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 Wildlife experts encourage residents and tourists not to feed the birds. Human food, including bread, crackers and popcorn, does not provide proper nutrition and can cause geese to become dependent on handouts while losing their natural fear of people. Feeding also attracts larger numbers of birds to public areas, increasing sanitation and safety concerns.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 The geese play an important role in the lake\u2019s ecosystem, helping disperse seeds and serving as part of the area\u2019s diverse wildlife. Lake Guntersville is internationally recognized for its rich bird population, attracting bird enthusiasts from across the country throughout the year.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 Officials recommend enjoying the geese from a respectful distance, keeping pets leashed near nesting areas and allowing the birds plenty of space, especially during breeding season.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 As another Alabama summer unfolds, the familiar honking calls echoing across Lake Guntersville serve as a reminder that the lake is home not only to world-class fishing and boating, but also to an impressive variety of wildlife that continues to draw people to its shores.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u00a0 \u00a0GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. \u2014 Whether gliding across the calm waters at sunrise, gathering along the shoreline at City…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":142571,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[17,792,116],"class_list":["post-142570","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-canada","tag-canada","tag-local","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142570","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=142570"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142570\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/142571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142570"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=142570"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=142570"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}