Living with Waterfowl | Calgary Wildlife

LIVING WITH
WATERFOWL.

Waterfowl are known for their territorial aggression and often unusual choices of nesting sites. In the spring, downtown rooftops become the choice nesting locations for geese, while ducks tend to take up residence in suburban gardens and bushes. Understanding how these animals nest and raise their young will help these animals and the people who interact with them peacefully co-exist.

Fast Facts

• Ducks and geese produce ‘precocial’ young, meaning that once a duckling or gosling is hatched it is fully feathered, with eyes open and is capable of walking and foraging for food on its own

• Geese tend to be monogamous and will often return to the same nesting site year after year

• Female geese and ducks are less able to fly before they are about to lay their eggs. The male will defend his mate and nest while she is vulnerable

• Geese and ducks incubate their eggs for between 3 and 4 weeks and once their eggs have hatched, it can take goslings and duckling over 2 months to learn to fly

• Geese and ducks are protected under The Migratory Birds Act of Canada

Managing Canada Goose Nesting in Urban Areas

Canada geese are highly adaptable and frequently select rooftops, courtyards, and landscaped properties in urban settings as nesting sites. While these areas may seem secure to the birds, they often create significant challenges for property managers and the public. Proactively deterring geese before they begin nesting is the most effective strategy, as once eggs are laid, the birds are legally protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, and special permits are required to interfere with active nests.

One of the most effective methods to prevent nesting is exclusion through physical barriers. Rooftop areas can be fitted with netting, fencing, spikes, or other deterrents to block access. Geese prefer open sightlines and low predator risk, so even adding visual obstructions like tall planters, flagging, or mesh can make a location less attractive. Rooftops with gravel or green cover should be monitored closely in early spring, as these are particularly favored by nesting pairs.

Another option is using hazing or scare techniques such as predator decoys, lasers, loud noises, or remote-controlled deterrents. These tools work best when used early in the season and varied regularly to avoid habituation. In some cases, trained working dogs may be used to encourage geese to move on without causing harm. It's important to deploy these methods before nesting begins, as geese are extremely defensive of their nests and will not be easily displaced once eggs are laid.

In areas where nesting has already occurred, egg addling or nest removal may be considered, but this requires a permit from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Egg addling involves treating eggs so they no longer develop, which discourages the pair from renesting elsewhere. This method must be done humanely, and in accordance with the guidelines provided by ECCC. It is illegal to disturb active nests or harm adult geese without federal authorization.

A common concern in urban areas is the fate of goslings that hatch on rooftops. In many cases, Canada goose goslings are capable of surviving falls of up to three stories (approximately 30–40 feet) without injury. When possible, wildlife professionals advise allowing the family unit to remain together and descend naturally. However, when adult geese do not return or the drop presents undue risk, goslings may be carefully relocated to ground level in accordance with Section 6 of the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, which allows temporary possession for the purpose of transporting distressed birds to licensed rehabilitation facilities.

For more detailed information or to request guidance or permits related to goose management, contact Environment and Climate Change Canada – Prairie & Northern Region:

Phone: 1-800-668-6767
Email: ec.enviroinfo.ec@canada.ca
Website: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-bird-conservation/managing-conflicts.html

Mallard Ducks Nesting in Your Yard

Mallard ducks are protected under The Migratory Birds Act of Canada, meaning tampering with a nest and eggs is illegal without a permit. Once the eggs are laid, it takes roughly 28 days for them to hatch. Once they do, mother duck will lead her ducklings to water. Once they've left, if you don't want ducks nesting in your yard, remove the nest and set up motion sensor lights and sprinklers which should deter them from nesting. But remember, giving mallard ducks a place to nest is just one small thing you can do to help wildlife and our ecosystems.

Families of Waterfowl on Roadways

Geese and ducks nest quite a distance away from water. When the ducklings and goslings hatch, they are not developed enough to swim. The walk to the body of water from the nesting site allows the hatchlings to develop the leg strength that is critical to their ability to swim. Additionally, the young need time to develop sufficient waterproofing of their feathers before they reach water. Unfortunately, most waterfowl nest in the city, and reaching those bodies of water from the nesting site often means travelling through neighborhoods and across potentially busy roadways.

It is important for the public to not stop traffic on busy streets to aid waterfowl. This is dangerous and puts both people and the animals at risk. The best thing to do would be to contact the Calgary Police Non-Emergency Line (403-266-1234) and request assistance from the police to halt traffic and allow the animals to cross. If the waterfowl are travelling through urban neighborhoods, it is best to leave them be. Traffic is usually slow enough that the drivers can allow the animals to cross.

Orphaned Waterfowl

It is not normal to find a lone gosling or duckling, or even a group of goslings or ducklings without any sign of a adult. While these animals can forage for food as soon as they’re hatched, they rely on their parents to keep them safe and teach them how to find food. If you find a duckling or gosling alone without any adults nearby, it is best to contact a wildlife rehabilitation organization and take the animal to them.

Feeding Waterfowl

It is often customary for people to want to feed waterfowl at ponds and streams with bits of bread. This can be very dangerous for waterfowl, however, as bread is not a nutritionally complete source of food for the animal. Waterfowl do not need food supplementation and feeding them can encourage the birds to remain in that location and forego migration, it can increase habituation and aggression toward people, and it can cause malformations in wing and feather development from nutritional deficiencies. Better choices for feeding would be frozen peas and corn, or shredded lettuce. But when in doubt, don’t feed the waterfowl!