MessageJust my two cents.  I have seen Canada Geese nest in cottonwood trees 
here in Fontenelle Forest  on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River a number 
of times.  There also was a pair nesting in a cottonwood at a monastery west of 
Omaha 3 years ago.  Lewis and Clark made mention of Canada Geese nesting in 
trees when they came up the Missouri River over 200 years ago as well.  When I 
go to Yellowstone NP there is a place in the Lamar Valley where a large Douglas 
Fir tree has the top broken off.  The first time I noticed this tree there was 
a Canada Goose nesting on the top (30-40 feet high).  The next year the nest 
was occupied by an Osprey.  Then last year it was again occupied by a Canada 
Goose - guess whoever gets there first has dibs on the tree.
Clem Klaphake
Bellevue, NE
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ty Smedes 
  To: IA-BIRD 
  Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 9:47 AM
  Subject: [ia-bird] RE: Goose behavior


  Regarding tree nesting behavior in Canada's:

  Last year I observed a Canada nesting high-up in a cottonwood tree in an 
unused Bald Eagle nest, near Maxwell I believe?


  Ty Smedes
  [email protected]

  Ty Smedes Nature Photography
  4732 72nd Street
  Urbandale
  Iowa 50322-1148

  phone: 515-270-9086
    -----Original Message-----
    From: [email protected] 
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Art Check
    Sent: Sunday, May 01, 2011 10:08 PM
    To: IA-BIRD
    Subject: [ia-bird] Goose behavior


          Birders-

          Last Monday (sorry for late post) I observed some unusual behavior 
displayed by some Canada Geese on not one, but two seperate and unrelated 
occasions.  
          First, I was driving along I-35 through Ankeny by the Mill Pond 
retirement facility.  As I drove South, I noticed a Canada Goose seemingly 
hovering over one of the buildings (which I believe was 3 stories tall).  I did 
a double take as it gently landed on the roof of the building at the peak.  As 
intrigued as I was, I felt that steering my car straight going 70 in 3 lanes of 
traffic was probably more important, so I was only able to see this well for a 
few seconds.
          Secondly, I met Bob Cecil in Des Moines who kindly showed me an area 
that had lots of the Phragmites grass I have been searching out (thanks to all 
for their replies on that by the way!).  
          As we were leaving there, we looked up in a large tree (cottonwood I 
think), and saw a pair of Canada geese sitting in a crotch of the tree with one 
of them peering into the end of a large broken limb.  I do have a couple of 
pictures of them sitting there on the limb, which must have been 30 feet up or 
so.  I do not yet have any evidence that they were nesting or attempting to do 
so, but I just found it very interesting.
          Bob was able to find a couple of references of Canada's cavity 
nesting; have any of you seen this type of behavior, whether it be nesting or 
just seeing these birds in these somewhat peculiar circumstances?  Is there 
some biblical event about to take place or was it just unusual to see unusual 
behavior twice in one day?  (Do 2 unusuals make 1 usual?)  Or did I add 
something unusual to my coffee that morning without realizing it?

          Unusually yours,

          Art Check
          Nevada 
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