Why are the geese around my area flying north?

Geese and other waterfowl have daily movement patents that are related to food availability and weather. I live in southern Illinois where many snow and Canada goose winter. They typically move from Refuge to Refuge. These are north, south, east and west. They also move from corn field to corn field. They may spend a few days in southern Indiana one week and then the next week they maybe in southwest Missouri. No matter the direction. What does effect their movement is snow and ice cover. Just about any thickness of ice will force them to move south, it takes about 3 or 4 inches of snow to force that. However, when the ice and snow melts, some of the geese will return.

Waterfowl rarely spend the whole winter in any one location.

Edit: The proper common name is Canada goose/geese. Not Canadian.

Canadian geese that come from more northern areas of Canada would find Missouri about this time of year as being south. Since they have fairly good cold resistance they only go as far south as they have to to find food and water. I read an article I think two years ago (here in Minnesota) that some of the geese in the Twin Cities have stopped migrating south during exceptionally warm winters (not that any MN winter is warm by any means just a winter that stays above -10) because they can find plenty of food and water. If you do see a flock of geese that look like they are in trouble you can always call the DNR who will know what to do for these protected animals.

Im in Iowa, so they are coming my way! Seriously, I have noticed for at least ten years that the "Canadian" geese don't fly ANYWHERE in the winter. They are feed too well at the lakes and parks to really need to go anywhere, and most lakes and ponds now have ariators that keep the water from freezing in winter. No, I don't think it's a crazy magnetic catastrophe, like in the movie "The Core".

it takes longer than one may think for foul to reach their northern and southern migrating destinations. most of these birds leave these locations long before any cold or warm weather graces our minds. they generally stop for days sometimes weeks at a time in a few places along their way.

basically, they're leaving now because they have a long trip ahead of them.

i hope this helps!