Arrival of the Canada Goose in this area
In 1922, Mr. Clyde Tuck of Shoal Harbour brought home two tame Geese and a wild one. In 1924, he took four eggs from a wild Goose nest on the Shoal Harbour country. These eggs set under a hen and hatch three young. Years later he took four young from Pitts Pond. At that time he clipped their wings and kept them inside during the winter months. Later he took five young from Lake O Brain country near Notre Dame Junction. These Geese nested in Shoal Harbour River. Their nests were torn up by dogs and several were shot. So Mr. Tuck built pens near his home and kept them there for a few years. The Geese became tame and Mr. Tuck tried to make arrangements with the Game Warden to keep them. But this was against the law. In the winter of 1947 he let the Geese go and from that winter on, they stayed outside.

 After confederation in 1949 Mr. Tuck had to get a permit from Ottawa to look after the Geese. These Geese gradually migrated to this area of the lower Shoal Harbour River basin. For many years the Geese were feed by Mr. Jimmy Pearce who could be seen walking out on the ice to hand feed them. It was noted that the one way he could get close to them was by wearing the same colour coat.

The Canada Goose can be seen in great numbers in this area each year during the Spring and Fall.
 

Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis)

The several varieties of Canada Geese are the best known wild geese in North America. These large birds average about 36 inches - 92 centimeters in length, are gray above, and have a black head and neck. A prominent white patch runs under the chin and up both cheeks. They nest from the Northern Untied States to the Arctic Tundra and winter as far South as Mexico. Canada Geese mate for life. The female lays four to ten eggs that the male helps to incubate. Both parents furiously defend the young, hissing violently and attacking intruders with their strong bills and beating wings.

The Canada Goose stops in the area most every year during the spring and fall. While here it feeds on underwater plants and vegetation along shore.