Spring's First Goslings
by Elizabeth Winter
Title
Spring's First Goslings
Artist
Elizabeth Winter
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The female lays her eggs as soon as there is open water for mating and snow-free nest sites.
The female typically lays a clutch of 5 to 7 white eggs (though the number can range anywhere from 2 to 12) while the male guards the nesting area. Laying the eggs is not a simple task. Each egg takes a little over a day to lay.
I can tell you from personal experience that if you accidentally wander into a nesting male's territory while looking for a good spot to lie your picnic blanket down, he'll come after you hissing with wings spread -- they look a lot bigger and move a fair bit faster when they're upset about something.
The eggs typically take about a month to incubate. The process is faster the farther north the geese nest since the summers are shorter.
The baby geese peck at their shells with the 'egg tooth' found at the end of their bill. It takes 1 to 2 days for them to free themselves from the egg.
The newly hatched babies (called 'goslings') are able to swim immediately. The male and female goose both accompany the babies during their swims.
Goslings can dive and swim for 30-40 feet underwater and they eat almost continuously to attain growth for the first migration flight.
After the babies (called 'goslings') have hatched, the family moves away from the nesting site on foot toward more favorable feeding areas. Five weeks after the goslings hatch, the females begin moulting (the males begin right after mating). During this time, the adults are unable to fly. The adults regrow their flight feathers and are ready to fly at about the same time as the goslings are able to learn - at nine weeks old.
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April 25th, 2014
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Viewed 1,385 Times - Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 03/18/2024 at 5:37 PM
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Comments (80)
David T Wilkinson
Elizabeth: What a great spring image! Congratulations on SECOND PLACE out of 127 entries in the SPRING LOGO FOR THE MIDWEST AMERICA PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP Contest and on the SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTED ARTIST recognition on the MIDWEST AMERICA PHOTOGRAPHY Group homepage. L&F
Donna Tuten
What a gorgeous shot, Elizabeth! The goose and goslings are beautiful, but add those beautiful reflections you've captured, and it's spectacular! (L)
Usha Shantharam
Awe what a beautiful capture Elizabeth. Love the mother and the goslings. Thank you for the wonderful description. F/L.
Carlin Blahnik
Excellent angle and composition. Draws me in and lets my eyes wander all over to discover the detail. L
Deb Halloran
Elizabeth, What a sweet capture of this lovely family. Excellent colors, clarity and light...nicely done. v/f