Youngsters
get to know the young hero and the adventures
that carry him toward manhood. As they come to know Jeremiah as a friend who would
understand their own growing pains, they look forward to each book in the
series.
Teachers
will Achieve..
Teachers will appreciate the ways
that Jeremiah Stokely novels, kits, and activities make literature
meaningful to children. Teachers can download free classroom idea
packets to hold a hand-on workshop based on each book.
Click the >Play button
to listen to the bird's song!
Canada Goose (Branta
canadensis maxima)
Length 25-45 in., wingspan 43-60 in., Family
Anatidae
The Canada Goose is a member of the duck family, and
there are at least six distinct subspecies of Canada Goose, varying greatly
in size. The best known is the large (maxima) Canada Goose that we
see flying in the familiar V formation. It has a gray-brown back, light gray
breast, distinctive black neck and head, and a white patch under the chin
and across the cheeks.
Canada Geese normally live near wooded lakes, ponds,
bays and marshes, but are becoming year-round residents in urban areas that
provide the habitat they need, including parks and golf courses. Many people
in suburban areas consider geese a nuisance because of their loud honking
and the droppings they leave. Geese forage in early morning and late
afternoon, grazing in flocks. Their diet is mostly plant material, including
stems, shoots, aquatic plants, seeds, and berries.
These birds form mating pairs for life. The female
builds a nest on slightly higher ground near water and lines it with down.
She sits on the four to seven eggs for nearly a month while the male stands
guard nearby, defending the nest by gesturing and hissing at intruders. Both
parents care for the young even though they are able to feed themselves.
Goslings fly six to nine weeks after hatching. These birds are unusual
because they form strong family bonds with the young that last beyond the
necessary feeding period.
The Canada Goose ranges from arctic Canada and Alaska
into Siberia. It winters as far south as Japan, the southern U.S., and
central Mexico.
