Expert: Roger Lederer - 4/21/2011

Question
I live in an apartment complex in Orlando, FL. For the past two weeks I've noticed two geese around our apartment and have found a small nest with eggs in it.  It started out as two and now there are nine.  It seems every morning I come out there is a new egg.  During the day, I don't see the parents.  But in the early morning I see them before I take my dogs for a walk.  Is this normal?  Are they stealing eggs and bringing them to their nest?  Why don't the sit on them during the day?  Have my dogs kept them from coming to their nest?  Help!!!  I want the eggs to survive and the small geese to emerge.  Is their anything I can do to help them?  Thank you for getting back to me.

Answer
I presume these are Canada Geese. They will lay one egg a day until they have laid 5-12 eggs and then they will start incubation. (They cannot steal or carry any eggs.) They will start to incubate the eggs and they will hatch in 3-4 weeks. Best thing you can do is leave them undisturbed and especially keep the dogs away and the birds will do fine. Thanks for your concern.