Sun, 12 May 2024 11:23:29 -0400WeeblyThu, 04 Apr 2024 20:52:58 GMThttp://goosefreedom.com/blog/much-has-happenedYes, much has happened in the last year. Exactly a year if you figure in this was leap year. Teresa and I along with Charlie and Lynda (minus George and Wanda who were advised by Georges doctor not to travel) went on a cruise to Ocean Cay and the Bahamas. When we returned T & I resumed our walking and discovered a Muscovy Duck sitting on a nest. It has been eight weeks and today was the first time I had seen her not on the nest. I could see one egg on the nest and two outside. She went back to it and sat again. Her 28 days are up unless she has recently laid another. 
Last week we discovered a goose nest very close to the duck nest. The next day the Gander decides to warn (our Schnauzer) Bogey off. The next day he gets more aggressive and attacks Bogey while the Goose stands and opens her wings to look bigger.  Bogey walks on the other side of me like I'm a human shield for a few days. Tuesday this week he rushes out of the water and attacks Bogey and tags me too. Today Bogey rushes the Gander and I get tagged again. This guy is getting vicious about his roll as mate protector. After a big rain yesterday, I discovered two more geese nesting by watching their guardian Gander swim toward me or standing alone he honks a warning. When it's a bit drier I plan to get a little closer to see how these Ganders respond.
On another note, a local Mallard Duck showed up with nine small ducklings. They are growing quite fast. Last Tuesday the daddy joined them for a swim. Today Bogey and I had them come out of the woods and cross in front of us headed into another wooded section. The male duck was all alone in the water we saw them in just two days ago.]]>Sun, 23 Apr 2023 00:48:42 GMThttp://goosefreedom.com/blog/season-2023-observationsWed, 05 Apr 2023 12:45:34 GMThttp://goosefreedom.com/blog/its-been-a-whileIt's been a while since I posted anything so it is catch-up time.

In 2022 the golf course had the Department of Natural Resources setup a fence and baited it for several days and then captured all but 18 of the geese on the property. Unfortunately, Luci was one of the captured. I thot maybe she and the others would return after a period of time. But they have not.

So in 2023 I have seen six goslings belonging to a pair and boy are they protective! Walking close by the mama will honk and the little ones scurry to keep up as she heads toward the water. I saw a single goose fly with a few feet of the brood one day and papa did his ducking head thing to ward off the intruder.

I have also discovered my first ever nest. Today I saw papa about a hundred yards away keeping watch over his mate. Returning, I cut at an angle toward the nest. Papa picked up the pace toward the nest as well. I stopped within about 40 yards so as not to disturb mama goose.

​Geese are rather protective along with their infamous pecking order. I am still amazed at these creatures after watching for 6 years now.]]>Thu, 28 Oct 2021 19:43:29 GMThttp://goosefreedom.com/blog/never-leftAbout two weeks ago we took a less traveled route home and came in behind Camden County High School. It had at least two years since we had been that route. We discovered lots of housing where there was not before. We also discovered a lot of geese that I thought had migrated elsewhere. Well, today after lots of rain there are over fifty here behind our house on hole #10. These guys are permanent to the area.]]>Mon, 12 Apr 2021 11:45:16 GMThttp://goosefreedom.com/blog/magical-viewSo T and I go for a golf cart ride late yesterday and find some goslings. Eight of them with a single set of parents. That is an unusual site locally. It was magical.]]>Wed, 07 Apr 2021 12:14:07 GMThttp://goosefreedom.com/blog/we-have-goslingsWe just saw our first of the season. A Gander and his Goose were quickly walking up the fairway on number 10 headed for deeper water on number 11. One of the first things goslings are led to do is get into the water. They can dive down as far as 40 feet. The water is also a level of protection for them from predators. Be assure the Gander and Goose will be quite close for any sign of diving predators from the sky.]]>Sat, 13 Mar 2021 01:25:20 GMThttp://goosefreedom.com/blog/recent-observationsI was recently at the Baptist Nassau Hospital walking around waiting for an appointment. Two geese were feeding on the lawn under a tree when two other geese were honking from the air. The two under the tree suddenly laid down and lowered their heads and necks to the ground like they were trying to hide themselves. The flying geese landed nearby and the two pair began their feeding routine. Unusual witnessed behavior for me.

I’m seeing more and more pairs of geese and assume any groups are juveniles that are dating or single hoping for a future mate. Of course, there could be a few in the mix that are beyond their egg laying years too.

I’m also seeing singles scattered around and.believe them to be ganders hanging around feeding while the goose is nearby building or rebuilding her nest. Once she starts laying an egg a day the gander will be closer in case any predators get too close so he can lure them away.

One more. I believe I have discovered a nest near my house and hidden from view of anyone looking in that direction. There are many who could possible see if they were looking for a goose sitting on a nest.]]>Sun, 07 Feb 2021 22:29:47 GMThttp://goosefreedom.com/blog/love-is-in-the-airThe local birds, a.k.a. Geese, are running off their previous years offspring and 
pairing off to build/rebuild a nest and start the process over again. It’s what they do.]]>Wed, 02 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMThttp://goosefreedom.com/blog/single-low-fly-byStanding at the rear window of our home I was gazing out at the golf course when here comes a single goose flying quite fast and only a few feet about the ground. I looked and couldn't see any other geese but this bird was headed somewhere in a hurry.]]>Tue, 01 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMThttp://goosefreedom.com/blog/night-migrationI happened to awaken at 2 am today and heard that honking sound. Our local geese leave at dusk headed to their sleeping area. So, these honkers must have been headed somewhere on a migration journey.]]>