"After years of study, I concluded that the Canada goose is the most joyous creature I’ve ever known...According to the goose mantra, every moment is to be cherished, savored, and revered…A Canada goose never forgets a face or a kindness…I have seen…goslings coo to one another with sheer, unabashed affection, and wondered how they managed to get it right and we didn’t. In their world, sibling rivalry is for the birds.”
—Mary Lu Simms, Investigative reporter specializing in wildlife issues
This was my first bike ride since taking a spill in Tiburon during a group ride that began over the Golden Gate Bridge with friends including my son-in-law Kyle earlier in the month requiring a trip to the ER. I had an interesting encounter involving geese and goslings during a warm, sunny, Sunday afternoon on the Los Gatos Creek Trail. There was one adult couple of geese that were in the middle of a pedestrian/bike path that appeared to be in a panic trying to protect two adorable yellow goslings from being run over. To their right were two other adult geese coaxing nine or ten goslings to stay close. I drove my bike off to the side and motioned fast approaching teen bicyclists with my hands to slow down to avoid injuring the furry little goslings.
Geese are known to mate for life. They are one of the most intelligent birds, with a great memory and do not forget people that have shown acts of kindness toward them. Canada geese bring their goslings together in flocks known as a clutch or gang of goslings that are communally looked after by all the adults. In other words it is like a big kindergarten with the adults sharing duties. In fact, I later realized that the first couple of geese were merely watching after the two goslings that belonged to the second group.
Goslings are fun to watch, but don’t dare touch if you see a clutch or gang of goslings. Both parents (especially a gander) will aggressively defend the goslings until they are able to fly, which is about ten weeks. They will hiss or scream at humans and other animals if they get too close to their nests and babies. Otherwise for the most part geese are friendly, have personality galore, and given enough time and engagement may bond with you much like a dog.
