
14 Jun Feathers Make the Goose | June 2016
Feathers Make the Goose

Canada Goose Gosling
Everyone knows that feathers make the goose.
As a goose matures, it tries on different outfits (feathers, actually).
This begins with fluffy yellow down, as shown in the above photo.
But no goose wants to spend its life looking like a bathtub toy. So they change into something less vivid, as shown below.
Notice two changes: 1) The hint of black feathers on its face, and 2) The longer bill.

Canada Goose, Gosling
Next the goose experiments with a “teenage” outfit.
Teenagers always look like they are between where they were and where they’re going.
Now adult feathers replace the downy plumage that covered the young gosling.
Right now, this bird’s appearance wouldn’t impress anyone except its parents, who are undoubtedly proud of its progress.

Canada Goose, Juvenile
Finally, we have the finished goose, ready to begin a productive career in a park or golf course.
If you know about an opening, please send a Honk (like a tweet, but louder and more emphatic).

Canada Goose
About the Canada Goose
A female goose will lay an egg every day (or two) until she fills the nest (usually 4 to 7, sometimes 2 to 11). Then she sits on the eggs. This way all the eggs hatch at the same time.
The new ones are ready to walk, eat, and swim within hours after hatching. Then the adults lead them to find food. And thus begins another generation.

Canada Goose, Female and Goslings
Much success,
Steve Kaye
More Goose Stories at:
The Truth about Bird Photography and a Goose Update
Help Birds Tip
1) Never give people food (such as bread, cookies, or crackers) to geese or ducks.
Why: People food lacks essential nutrients that these birds need. So they fill up on junk that interferes with eating food that nourishes them. In the worst cases they can suffer dietary deficiencies. The human equivalent of this would be eating only donuts.
2) Avoid lawn chemicals
Why: Geese eat mainly plants, which includes grass, “weeds,” and such. When they eat plants treated with pesticides, they become sick.
Here’s an article that tells more about why these chemicals are also bad for people: See Pest Control Chemicals
Did You Know?
The most effective way to help birds is to buy land.
Here are three organizations that excel at doing this.
Please visit their web sites to learn about the work they do.
Here’s an excellent book: The American Bird Conservancy Guide to Bird Conservation
You can help – Please share this blog with others.
Inspiring Respect for Nature, one bird at a time.
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Jo-ann Coller
Posted at 11:03h, 17 JuneInteresting, love your blogs
Penny Schafer
Posted at 11:41h, 17 JuneI know they have to grow up but I still love the babies best!
Rose Webster
Posted at 13:48h, 17 JuneThey grow incredibly fast and it’s amazing how bold (and kinda mean) the Canada goose can be – very unCanadian.
So glad you pointed out that we really shouldn’t be feeding them “people” food (esp. white bread and fries),
Other reasons bread is bad: in water, it encourages the growth of harmful levels of algae and bacteria and when it decomposes, it can attract disease-carrying rats (and rat urine transmits leptospirosis, also known as Weil’s disease – deadly for humans too). And sadly, rotting bread is a growth medium for the aspergillus mould which can kill ducks or geese.
If people are going to feed ducks or geese, natural treats like oats, corn, or defrosted frozen peas would be the best choices.
Susie Vanderlip
Posted at 20:56h, 17 JuneLovely photos, Steve!
Susan Bulger
Posted at 21:14h, 17 JuneAs always you have combined beauty, wisdom and humor. There is nothing better.
Gail Pearce
Posted at 21:33h, 17 JuneAs always: delightful, informative , fun! TY G. Pearce
Bob Franz
Posted at 08:08h, 18 JuneYour goose write-up is a quack-up. Bob