The Mystery that Binds Goose Pairs Together -- It's Not Just About Procreation

The new goslings at Central Park with parents.

John and Mary. Still together and devoted to each other despite three years of their eggs failing to hatch.  Whatever binds goose couples together, apparently reproduction isn't necessary for love and life-long attachment.

Some positive developments over the past week.

.

Geese Police has not been observed harassing flightless and crippled geese at the Boat Lake in Central Park. That is good news as virtually all, but a very few geese are in full molt now. (Flightless, six-week period when geese lose and replace old flight feathers with new ones.) 

.

Back at the Reservoir, where most of the wildlife action is occurring these days, we actually have more molting geese than we did the past two years.

.

That is because the molting goose population appears to be concentrated at the Reservoir this year as opposed to dispersed at different watercourses in Central Park. (This is likely due to the nearly year-round harassment that only apparently ceased the past week. There are only six geese at the Boat Lake this year from a high of 17 over past two years.)

.

Personally, I am not so sure that is positive development as much as a wash.  Good news is that the Reservoir is a generally safe area for the geese for the lack of human activities, (including harassment) and because it would be very difficult to pull off a USDA Wildlife Services roundup there. Bad news is any concentration of geese in one area usually results in attention from wildlife officials and could be potentially destructive were any infectious disease to break out.

.

Fortunately, the number of geese is not that big at the Reservoir, but rather akin to what the overall number of molting geese has been in CP over the past few years (Around 40). They are just nearly all in one place now.

.

As far as the four resident (adult) geese who were already at the Reservoir before the newcomers arrived, they are none too pleased, but accepting of the reality.

.

Parents to the four goslings hatched two weeks ago, Hansel and Greta, generally avoid the geese there for the molt, but when paths cross, Hansel is quick (and fierce) to lay down rules. The newcomers are learning fast who are the prime honchos at the Reservoir. Those who don't heed the message immediately are dunked in water and unceremoniously chased and pecked away by Hansel.

.

John and Mary have also wasted no time is letting other geese know they are second in command at the Reservoir, though it's interesting to note that since the "battle" of last week (between Hansel and John), the defeated pair are very careful to avoid the family completely. It was a hard lesson for John, but one apparently learned well.

.

The 30+ new geese appear to be comprised of small family groups and a number of pairs. 

.

There has been some scrapping among the geese, but no out and out battles similar to last week. As noted, hierarchy and order are important among geese. Generally, the older, established pairs call the shots and the younger, unattached geese have to acquiesce.

.

It is interesting to note that as devoted and protective as new parental geese are to their offspring, once the goslings become young adults (at about a year), the parents usually become harsh disciplinarians.  That is especially true when the parents want to mate again in the spring -- in which case, they literally kick the kids out.

.

 http://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/birding-basics/birds-mate-life/?utm_content=buffere844c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

.

But, because so few NYC geese are allowed to hatch new goslings, it seems many of the former parents reunite with grown offspring. -- In which case, they still play the role of disciplinarians, but with forever loving and devoted touch.  The young ones simply have to learn well the rules of respect and being able to take hard knocks in the goose world.  That is, after all what life is all about. -- Working one's way to the top.

.

Young geese have to earn their privileges, among them, the rights to eventually breed -- though such is greatly thwarted by humans in charge these days. One has to wonder about the long range impacts of egg destruction tactics over the long haul, especially on the geese's normal tendency to mate for life. (See article link above.) 

.

However, so far, it has been interesting and reassuring to note Central Park goose pairs whose eggs have been consistently destroyed over some years, nevertheless staying together. (John and Mary, Napoleon and Josephine, Man and Lady and Larry and Laura).

.

Loyalty, steadfastness and devotion seem to know no bounds among the geese despite whatever hardships come their way -- including failure to reproduce.

.

Apparently, love in the goose world is not entirely dependent upon procreation.

.

There is something else binding established goose pairs together, but damned if I personally know what that something is. -- PCA

.

.

.

                                                **********