Canadian Goose Defends It's Title

11/06/2005 12:04:22 AM · #1

Took my grandson to the duck pond today to feed the ducks when a flock of about 30+ Canadian Geese stopped by. We made our way over to them. Once we were close enough, and not too close as to scare them off, I laid on the ground with my camera in hand while my grandson sat beside me and started tossing out piece of bread.

Within a few minutes, a fight broke out.

------

It only lasted a few seconds and there was quite a ruckus. The victor chased the challenger away (unfortunately I couldn't get that shot). Moments later, the victor joined the group back on land while several geese seemed to pledge their allegiance by bowing their heads repeatedly. (The victor is facing left.)

It was a really neat event. I've never experienced this kind of behaviour from a flock of geese before. :)

George

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

11/06/2005 03:38:43 AM · #2

GG - you laid down in the grass in Canada Geese country! Wow, you're a brave man or the geese just got there for the first time. Usually one, er, highsteps through their territory. Any Canada geese I have met process grass rapidly and in great quantity!

Oh yes, very fine pictures.

;>)

fsteddy

11/06/2005 08:14:55 AM · #3

Canadian Geese = Sky Carp. Please DO NOT feed those things. In many places it is illegal to feed them.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

11/06/2005 09:29:25 AM · #4

Originally posted by sfalice:

Yep! I sure did. But, they'd just got there so there were no "land mines". LOL! I've seen the bombs they lay, they're hard to miss! - We actually watched as these geese flew over, circled back around and decended in a large circle before landing in an open field. They walked over to the water and swam around a bit then gathered around the area where I took these photos. I was careful not to lay in "processed" territory. LOL

Originally posted by fsteddy:

Canadian Geese = Sky Carp. Please DO NOT feed those things. In many places it is illegal to feed them.

As an expatriate, it's like a piece of home has come to visit. :) It's not illegal where I am. This pond that I go to is owned by a private company that allows people to enjoy the pond and feed the wildlife that inhabits it. They also maintain the grounds extremely well.

George

missinseattle

Nikon D200

11/06/2005 06:17:06 PM · #5

Great pics.

And it's not illegal to feed them where I live either, nor was it illegal when we were in NJ, and it wasn't in Seattle although that was almost 5 years ago now.

I have a good goose pic- well I think it's good for me lol. I take my daughter to feed the geese at a mill pond that's on the way out to her preschool. We feed them every friday on our way home.

here's my goose pic. There are canadian geese too, but I couldn't get any decent pics of them.
geese

missinseattle

Nikon D200

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

11/06/2005 06:17:41 PM · #6

Sorry it comes out so small, I saved them as web size so I could email them to the grandparents.

11/06/2005 07:07:20 PM · #7

That's a great pic, Kim. :) Geez, those are Canadian too? LOL I always thought that the black-faced ones were the only ones called Canadian Geese.

Here's a couple more I took at the same location (different day though).

LedZeppelin588

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Canon

11/06/2005 07:21:33 PM · #8

It's still a bad idea to feed a goose bread - doesnt' have enough nutrients and fills them faster.

From //www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/zoo00/zoo00464.htm :

"Any feeding that concentrates waterfowl in a small area creates a serious
potential for spread of disease through contact and droppings,
particularly avian botulism. Bread is not very good nutrition for
waterfowl, and "training" birds for a reliance on easy but nutritionally
poor food may reduce their ability to survive harsh conditions or when
feeding stops. Naturalists and biologists generally discourage or prohibit
any feeding of wildlife beyond backyard bird feeders."

Mark

Canon EOS-600D/T3i Rebel

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

11/06/2005 07:54:42 PM · #9

I shouldn't be so picky, but they're called Canada geese, not canadian. Technically, any species of goose that lives in canads is "canadian" whereas Canada Goose is actually the name of the specific species.

great pics. that takes really good timing

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

11/06/2005 08:09:02 PM · #10

Originally posted by Quickshutter:

Yes. A Canadian Goose is a Canada Goose who has a Canadian passport.
;>)

deapee

Kodak V803

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

11/06/2005 08:14:49 PM · #11

I always feed those things...why would it be illegal to feed them?

11/06/2005 09:42:23 PM · #12

Originally posted by LedZeppelin588:

It's still a bad idea to feed a goose bread - doesnt' have enough nutrients and fills them faster.

Thanks for the info, I'll look into what's safe to feed them... So, what'd you think of the pics? :D

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Originally posted by Quickshutter:

This is why I like this site so much, you learn something new everyday. :)

Good Timing? Thank ya! (Well, with a p&s, anticipation is just about everything, that and a lot of luck on the focus ability of the camera. You win some, you lose lots). I got pretty lucky with these shots, and this one too! :)

11/07/2005 09:56:08 PM · #13

One last bump before my birthday ends.

If you leave a comment on one of my pics, I'll be more than happy to return the favour.

Message edited by author 2005-11-07 23:21:03.

mpemberton

11/09/2005 06:34:23 PM · #14

Originally posted by ggbudge:

I laid on the ground with my camera in hand while my grandson sat beside me and started tossing out piece of bread.

Within a few minutes, a fight broke out.

It only lasted a few seconds and there was quite a ruckus. The victor chased the challenger away (unfortunately I couldn't get that shot). Moments later, the victor joined the group back on land while several geese seemed to pledge their allegiance by bowing their heads repeatedly. (The victor is facing left.)

It was a really neat event. I've never experienced this kind of behaviour from a flock of geese before. :)

George

Should try a hockey puck onetime, and see what happens.