Bird
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Photo: USFWS, Public Domain
Common Names
Canadian Goose, Wild Goose
Habitat
Rivers, lakes, wetlands, and grassy plains along the entire expedition route
First Observed
1804-07-15
Observed At
Along the Missouri River near present-day Atchison, Kansas
Geese were constantly observed throughout the journey and served as an important food source. Lewis noted in August 1806 that “the geese cannot fly at present,” referring to the molting season when the birds shed their flight feathers. The Corps hunted geese regularly to supplement their diet, particularly during lean times on the Columbia River.
Journal References
15 journal entries mention Canada Goose
Jul
14
1804
Clark: July 14, 1804
...h weed,
on the edges Plumbs of different kinds Grapes, and Goose berries, Camped
on the L. S. Ruben Fields and Gulrich joined the Party two men unwell, one
a Feli...
Apr
13
1805
Clark: April 13, 1805
...to a great distance near the aforesaid Lake (which we call
Goose egg L from a Circumstance of my Shooting a goose on her neast on
Some Sticks in the top of a high ...
Apr
13
1805
Lewis: April 13, 1805
...ll Boos Egg from the circumstance of Capt Clark shooting a
goose while on her nest in the top of a lofty cotton wood tree, from which
we afterwards took one egg. t...
Apr
26
1805
Clark: April 26, 1805
...e river back is higher bottoms and Covered
with red berry, Goose berry & rose bushes &. interspersed with
Small open Glades, and near the high land is Generally op...
May
3
1805
Lewis: May 3, 1805
...me that I touched it
with my espontoon.found the nest of a wild goose among some
driftwood in the river from which we took three eggs. this is the only
nest we have me...
May
5
1805
Lewis: May 5, 1805
...species of
geese which differ considerably from the common canadian goose; their neck
head and beak are considerably thicker shorter and larger than the other
in proportio...
Jul
21
1805
Clark: July 21, 1805
...y the yellow & purple kind. Choke Cheries are
Plenty; Some Goose buriesThe wild rose Continue the Willow more
abundant no Cotton wood of the Common kind Small bird...
Oct
25
1805
Clark: October 25, 1805
...e man killed a Small deer & Several others Seen I
killed a goose, and Suped hartily on venison & goose. Camped on the
rock guard under the hill.
---
October 25th F...
Oct
26
1805
Clark: October 26, 1805
... hunters killed five Deer, 4 verry large gray Squirrels, a
goose & Pheasent, one man giged a Salmon trout which we had fried in a
little Bears oil which a Chief ga...
Oct
31
1805
Clark: October 31, 1805
...nder a Shelveing rock below our
Camp
one of the men Shot a goose above this Great Shute, which was floating
into the Shute when an Indian observed it, plunged into...
Nov
8
1805
Clark: November 8, 1805
...proceeded on Close under the Stard. Side
R. Fields Killed a goose & 2 Canvis back Ducks in this bay after
Dinner we took the advantage of the returning tide & proce...
Jan
22
1806
Lewis: January 22, 1806
... celindric, with few or no
radicles and from the size of a goose quill to that of a man's finger; the
center of the root is divided into two equal parts by a stron...
Feb
8
1806
Clark: February 8, 1806
...eet. it grows very thick and
is from the size of that of a goose quil to that of a mans thumb,
Celendric. the bark of the older or larger part of the Stalk is of a...
Feb
12
1806
Clark: February 12, 1806
... above) is from a foot to
18 inches high and as large as a Goose quil; it is Simple and erect. its
leaves are cauline, and Spredding. the leafits are jointed & opp...
Mar
8
1806
Clark: March 8, 1806
... the brown brant and
a fourth less than the common wild or Canadian goose. the head is
proportionably with the goose reather large; the beak thicker Shorter and
of the Sam...
