The males defend the territory, nest, and eggs from intruders, such as other geese. The female has to leave the nest to eat, rest, swim and preen. Unguarded nests and eggs are targets for predators such as gulls, ravens, crows, skunks, dogs, and many others. The male sends out an alarm by flying into the air and honking as a predator approaches. This alerts not only his mate but others nesting nearby.
Females lower their bodies onto the nest and stretches out their necks to camouflage the nest.
These birds love to swim and bathe in the water, especially on warm days. The Geese swim and flap around and sometimes completely submerge themselves. Some subspecies have a yearly molt of flight feathers in the summer and become flightless during this time. Migrations begin in the fall. Large winter aggregations form while on lakes, coastal waters, and mudflats.