Egyptian Geese

Egyptian geese (Alopochen aegyptiacus) get classified in the National Geographic's bird books among the "exotic waterfowl," even though they're pretty common around here. They're also quite reliable breeders at Yorba Regional Park. Usually at any one time there are at least two breeding pairs producing two clutches of four to eight goslings each.

One of our first encounters with baby Egyptians is still one of our favorites. In December of 2012, we encountered a parade of geese: Mama, Papa, nine little ones, and Nanny. Nanny was a "barnyard" goose, with nobody else to call family, so she (he?) adopted this one. She was always present, very attentive and protective, and helped all eight little ones grow up. She helped with the next hatchlings, too, then disappeared.

January 2013

April 2013

January 2013

Over the years, we've watched several sets of babies grow up. Usually, if you see a solo adult, you can assume that there's another on a nest somewhere nearby. One early father chased all the wood ducks from the easternmost pond so that his soon-to-arrive family would have it to themselves; the wood ducks have never come back.

For a while, we knew where the nests were: on top of restroom buildings 2 & 4. But last year they replaced the skylights on the restrooms, and the geese haven't returned to nest there.

Recently, we learned that you can tell male from female by their vocalizations. The males make a more hissing sound, and the females make separate honking/quacking sounds.

The "mullet" look: smooth feathers up front, fluff in back

Right now, there are a few "regulars" that we can usually find on our walks. There are two young adults who hang around the ball fields, sometimes a singleton near the ball fields, a pair of young adults who have lately been in the river near the east end of the park, a mom and four adolescents, and the new parents with their one little one. There used to be a large flock at Tri-City Park, but lately we've only seen one or two there.

The mom and four adolescents are especially interesting. They started as a "regular" family -- parents and eight babies, plus a couple of adolescents from the last batch. We watched them for several weeks.

Then, suddenly, there was only one parent and only four babies. We still don't know what happened to the other half of the family, but probably predators wiped them out and hopefully the adolescents went someplace safer. The Fearsome Foursome seem to be doing OK, though we're concerned about Mom. If geese mate for life, as we've heard, what happens when one gets killed? Will she find a new partner? (There aren't many other adults to match up with.) Every time we visit and don't see them, or see only the Foursome, we worry, and hope that they've moved on to greener pastures.

 The Fearsome Foursome - March 14, 2015

And last week's only-child family? Still there!

Like father, like son - April 11, 2015