I sometimes see 2 Canada Geese together, and 1 of them are sitting on the ground. What are they doing when they do that? I saw it again today and I thought the goose had a nest or something, but when it stood up there was no nest. Why do they keep doing this, and what does it mean? Also in the photo I took today, the goose on the ground had its eye closed.
They’re a mated pair, and one is resting / sleeping, while the other is keeping watch for any potential dangers. They’ll take turns resting and guarding, it’s very sweet!
That’s cute if that is true
It certainly is nice to know, that these most ruthless and truculent of creatures have a soft side.
Yes, they’re very protective of their mates and goslings. They’re tremendously watchful and will attack predators (or perceived predators, like iNatters) that get near the goslings, and when they’re on the water, they position themselves in front and behind the line of goslings, like this
I am reconsidering my understanding of the children’s game “duck duck goose”, wherein touching those labeled ducks elicits only laughter and smiles but lightly tapping a goose provokes what could be perceived as an angry chase. 
For context, observation #75718382 by @leahmfulton shows the angry goose charge really well, for anyone who is outside this species’ range.
They seemed calm at first but then I went a bit closer and then they hissed at me but they didn’t attack me, I have never been attacked by a goose before but they showed their wings to me and hissed, basically just threatening me but not actually doing anything
Most geese that threaten me without chicks around, I say to them, “Let’s fight”, and they usually reveal themselves to be bullies, relying on intimidation and backing down from a real fight
It reminds me of this story:
https://youtube.com/shorts/j3jv5Cb_x8A?si=fmkIqc5o_Hg1BcLv
I had an interesting variation on this yesterday.
At a local park there was a single goose right at the edge of the path that simply remained there even when only separated from me by just the width of the path (it was a fairly wide path). I observed said goose.
Shortly thereafter a pair and two goslings started heading in my direction. The goslings walked fairly close to me and the parents didn’t have any problem with this. I observed one of the goslings.
However one of the pair very much had a problem with the earlier mentioned single goose and launched a charge at it as the goslings headed towards it.
I sometimes come across a pair of Canada geese on the side or in the middle of a path and I find that talking to them in a low voice and walking slowly calms them down and they don’t hiss or act agitated.
Do you mean quiet or low pitch?
Softly and calmly. Not a low bass note.
