two geese
one feeding….one standing guard—
by the pond
I watched a while as she kept eating and eating, ‘stuffing her face’….all the while he simply stood there looking out, occasionally ruffling his feathers. More often than not these birds all feed together. I was curious….this is what I learned:
“The breeding season for wild geese is between February and April depending on the weather. The female builds the nest, which is usually located within sight of water. The male goose stands to guard a short distance away to protect his mate and eggs from predators. Canada geese lay between four and nine eggs per year. The female lays one egg every one or two days, usually early in the morning. Once the eggs are all in place, she does not leave the nest; she does not eat, drink, or bathe while her eggs are incubating—this takes 28 to 30 days. Parents take their goslings to the water to feed almost immediately after birth. The day after birth, the parents then take their goslings to a brooding area, where they are raised with other families in a group called a crèche.”
