GANDERS DISTANCE FROM THE NEST AS A FUNCTION OF THE GOOSES INCUBATIONPERIOD IN CANADA GEESE (BRANTA-CANADENSIS-MAXIMA)

The purpose of this study was to determine if a gander's distance from its mate's nest changed as a function of the goose's incubation perio d. The subjects were a captive flock of wild giant Canada geese (Brant a canadensis maxima). Ganders' distance from their mates' nests was re corded daily at 4 randomly selected times. A daily mean was calculated from the 4 daily distance measurements. The results of this study ind icated that the ganders' distance from their mates' nests remained con stant over the incubation period but decreased significantly on the da y that goslings hatched.