A gander (a male) always leads a family of Canada Geese. He guards as his mate turns the eggs in her nest. Canada geese build their nest on the  lakes of the north. The nest they make is lined with down from the breast of the mother. They feed on water plants in shallow ponds. They often hunt for food in grain fields and meadows, too. A gander may measure over 3 feet long. They have a wingspan of over 6 feet and weigh up to 13 pounds. The wide span of the goose's wings are seen in their take-offs. As they fly, they keep honking. From the ground the honking sounds very much like the barking of dogs. They can often be seen and heard in the fall and spring as they migrate through the sky in their familiar  "v" shaped flocks.