I did not see #7 last night.
#7 is the "tag-a-long" goose who is sometimes seen with Buster and his gaggle and sometimes not.
"Tag-a-long" is the term I use to describe loner geese who though loosely accepted into an established goose family, are not part of the actual family.
It is not the first time I have witnessed this phenomenon among geese.
I first noticed it last summer when the Turtle Pond goose family molted at the boat lake.
Another family of four geese shared the lake and space with them throughout the six weeks of flightlessness.
But, there was also a "tag-a-long" goose who was not part of either family and was sometimes with the group and sometimes not.
About half the time I counted "nine" geese and during other times, "ten" geese.
I don't know where "loner" goose was the times I did not see him. But more than once, I noticed one goose swimming alone and honking on the lake, similar to what was observed the other night at Harlem Meer.
Generally, I believe that such geese (having lost or been separated from their own mates and families) are "low status animals" who while generally accepted into other goose families usually keep a respectable distance away. (It may only be a few feet, but is noticeable.)
I observed a similar circumstance among geese at Harlem Meer late last summer.
During that time, the Reservoir goose family of five "accepted" a loner goose into their gaggle, but the tag-a-long was always a few feet away from the family and was always the last to eat and otherwise be engaged. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to closely observe this dynamic over time because all the geese (less than a dozen) were "harassed" from the Meer shortly before Labor Day. (One more reason to hate goose harassment. -- It dumps out the window any studies on geese, their relationship to each other and other waterfowl.)
When he lost his mate, Angelina last summer, Brad immediately went from being the high status duck at Harlem Meer to becoming a low status animal.
While the mallards generally accepted Brad swimming around the perimeters of their flocks, they did not welcome or embrace him.
Brad became the "loner" duck at Harlem Meer -- a happenstance that greatly concerned me at the time as ducks are obviously flock animals.
And, while I hoped that Brad would soon find another mate or companion flock, that did not happen until Piggly and Wiggly (also domestic ducks) were dropped off at Harlem Meer this past fall.
Ironically, while generally not a good thing when domestic animals are abandoned in city parks, this turned out to be the best thing that could have happened for Brad. Not only did he finally have similar, domestic birds to "flock with," but his status was once again raised. (And of course, Brad's presence and experience at the Meer was obviously a good thing for the two Kacki Campbell ducks, neither of whom were likely to survive winter without the acceptance and wisdom of Brad.)
Still, that brings us back to the question of "loner geese" and where they eventually wind up?
I don't know where goose #10 wound up after last summer. Once the ten geese grew in their flight feathers, all of them left the boat lake -- at least for a while. (Or, were they harassed from the lake?)
Mama, Papa and their three yearlings eventually returned to the boat lake and presumably might still be there. But, they did not return with the other family of four geese whom they molted with, nor the loner goose.
And so with so little real information, I cannot predict what will happen with #7 goose.
Will he embark on some kind of "search" for his lost mate or flock? Will he stay for safety and security reasons with Buster and his gaggle? Or, will he, like Brad, float around the perimeters of Buster and crew, until at some point, he is able to find or replace a mate and begin his own family?
I don't know, but they are interesting questions to ponder.
Another interesting question to ponder: Do geese need to run before taking flight?
According to this article from an Audubon member, the answer to that question is "yes."
But, both myself and a fellow goose observer think that while it is desirable for geese to walk or run before flying, (for momentum) it is not necessary. (I know that from seeing geese harassed and having to take off almost vertically from a lake.)
It is quite amazing that while there is a great deal of information about goose flying patterns and migrations, there is actually very little about the birds' life, family and flock dynamics when on the ground or in the water.
And the reality is that geese spend most of their time either in the water or on the ground. Canada geese actually don't do a whole lot of "fun flying" like other birds. Perhaps because of their size and weight, flying uses far more energy than other activities.
Probably the greatest reason for this blog is to attempt to answer some of the mysteries and questions about geese that are truly yet to be answered. That seems quite ironic considering these are animals who live so close to humans and would presumably be better known and easily observed than most.
But, I'd be willing to bet that scientists know far more about some rare, exotic animal or insect from Africa or the tropical rain forests than they do the "common" animals we actually live with.
It seems to give credance to the Joni Mitchell lyric, "You don't know what you've got, till its gone." (Or, at least we don't seem to appreciate or care about anything until it is nearly gone.)
Nevertheless, for the moment I am happy to appreciate and strive to learn as much as possible about what's right before me -- at least as long as the regal geese and feisty, comical ducks are still here.
Perhaps the biggest not-so-mystery of all:
God only knows what the city and the USDA has in store -- especially for the geese.
"Familiarity" never to be taken for granted -- as tragically learned all too well over these past few years. --PCA
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