Something I've not thought much about is parental care by water-birds. Yesterday, at the lake in Langold Country Park (Notts) saw a couple of Canada geese in convoy with nineteen goslings -
- which struck me as a very large number even for two parents.
They swam across the lake (perhaps expecting food) and two other geese followed at some distance:
- but didn't join up with the larger group.
The goslings came onto land -
- but finding nothing to eat soon returned to the mothers (?). They seemed to gather in two distinct groups around the adults.
Anybody know anything about goose clutch size? I only recall seeing groups of around four. If these chicks belonged to other parents were they adopted or just being cared for temporarily? Any other suggestions?
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