Where the Geese Are......

"The Family." -- Daddy to the left. Mama and now grown goslings on right.

Mama (top) daughter, left and son, right.

Gaggle of three geese given bum's rush by Daddy gander (far lower right)

"The banished three."

Family watching other geese on water.

"Lady" -- mama goose.

One of the banished three warily returning -- after family left.

 Of all the false charges against Canada geese, the one I personally find most bizarre is that geese "chase out other birds." Nothing could be further from the truth -- or at least generally speaking, that is.   But, more about this later...... 

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These days one has to look long and hard to find Canada geese in Central Park.

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Since the molting season ended and the geese left the Jackie Onassis Reservoir (where most of them stayed during their six week flightless period), virtually all of Central Park watercourses have been devoid of geese with the exception of the Boat Lake.

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But, it is not only 7 geese at the Boat Lake (One family of four geese and a gaggle of three) but it seems also, most of Central Park's mallards!

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Put simply, where one finds geese, there are also the other birds.

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Recent visits to the Boat Lake found not only geese and ducks, but also flocks of pigeons, sparrows, a few cardinals and other birds flittering about. The area on the north side of the Boat Lake (and Rambles) is in fact, like a small Avery these days. 

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While geese are generally very peaceful and accepting of other birds, there is a definite hierarchy among them.  At the very top of that hierarchy are parent geese with goslings.

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Put simply, families rule in the goose world.

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The Boat Lake geese are no exception to this very hard and steadfast rule.

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The gaggle of three geese are constantly on the look-out for the family of four and are completely beholden to them.

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As soon as the parent geese and their two (now fully grown) goslings arrive to a location, the three adult geese have to immediately leave in deference to the family.  Should they fail to do so quickly enough, the gander of the family aggressively goes after and sends them flying to the water.  

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There, the banished three remain until such time the family finally decides to leave and then they can safely return to the site.   

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But, it is not only the gander of the family who engages in harassment behaviors in order to protect mate and offspring, but the hen, as well.   While its the gander's "job" to go after other geese or predatory threat, Mama goose's job apparently is to keep smaller birds away from goslings, such as ducks or pigeons. (Or, it could be that the mama of these particular goslings is especially vigilant and protective. "Lady" after all, went through a lot to finally hatch these two goslings. Lady is on constant vigil, as is her gander, "Man.") 

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For their part, the two goslings (who are now almost nine weeks old and fully developed), have taken on much of the parents' behaviors, including high vigilance and loyalty to the family. It appears that one of the goslings is a boy and the other a girl based upon size and behaviors.

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Though neither I nor Liliana (the regular observer of the Boat Lake water birds) have seen the goslings flying yet, it is foregone conclusion that the parents will soon be teaching them to do so as it appears the young now have flight feathers and should have full flight capability.

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But, mostly what we are seeing now is once again, the highly ingrained patterns of hierarchy in geese (high status vs low status) based upon established mated pairs and especially, the presence of goslings.  Unpaired geese and especially any "loners" are at the very bottom of goose totem poles.

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While to casual observers, such hierarchies may at times appear "aggressive" or even mean, (in terms of "chasing other birds") they serve purpose in terms of survival of the species itself. It is after all, the mated pairs and protection and survival of their offspring that guarantee perpetuation of the species. But, it is never a case of geese being "aggressive" for aggressive sake. When not paired up for mating and/or raising young, geese are among the most peaceful and welcoming birds on the planet to others. Were that not so, other birds would not flock to and be so comfortable around geese -- even when there is an established goose family. 

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Like other geese, the mallards and other birds quickly learn and just seem to "know" to keep respectful distance from the family and all will be cool.  If not, they have to be prepared to lose a few feathers. But, even that is better than losing life.

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I personally believe that other birds like hanging with the geese because of the extra measure of security and vigilance that the geese provide.  -- Just watch out for the gander, his missus and their growing "brats." 

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Family rules in the goose world and that often seems true on entire watercourses and to all the birds on them. -- PCA

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