Journal: Canada geese flying again

In the Twin Cities area, many of the Canada geese, mallards and wood ducks that lost their flight feathers early in the summer are now flying again. All ducks, geese and swans of North America shed their flight feathers and spend time as flightless birds; although there is a variation in the times this occurs, in general it would be safe to say that it is between June and into August. Ducks, swans and geese individually shed all their flight feathers simultaneously once a year, rendering them unable to fly until they are replaced. Ducks molt all their other feathers two times a year while swans and geese have one annual molt during which the entire plumage is renewed. JIM GILBERT