Canada Goose Eggs Survive Inundation by HighTides Click on pictures to enlarge
After much posturing and aggression between several pairs of
geese one pair of Canada Geese finally began nesting on the scrape pool at
Pickerings Pasture. Around the 9th
April 2015 we noticed that she had eggs and was sitting on her nest. The male
spent most of his time either swimming around the pond or standing guard on the
bank nearest the fence.
The gander posturing at another pair of geese nearby.
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The goose sitting on her nest.
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On 19th April there was a 10 metre tide, which
we knew would inundate the scrape pool and the nest. Once the tide had
encroached into the pool it came in very fast and the island was soon going
under water. We watched as the tide went over the nest: the female had her head
under the water and she appeared to be doing something with the eggs. Finally the tide went completely over the
nest and the female just floated away. The male immediately swam over and they
swam together around pond. The tide had not reached its maximum but we left
shortly afterwards. We understand the nest was submerged for over half an hour.
The goose appeared to be turning her eggs underwater.
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About 20 minutes before high tide.
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The female swam around the nest area.
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The female sitting again. The nest has moved slightly to the right.
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We were surprised, when returning the following day, that
she was still sitting on her nest and we saw her turning the eggs: however the
nest had moved to the right before getting caught in some long grass. There was
another 10m tide that day. Because it
had less wind behind it was slower to cover her nest and it was only submerged
for about 25 minutes. This time she vacated the nest before the tide completely
covered it.
Much to our amazement we found her sitting on the nest the next time we visited and she continued to incubate into May. In view of the tidal inundation we had no hope of any goslings hatching from the nest. |
We are not sure exactly when the goslings hatched but
they were seen leaving the island on Saturday, 9th May. Unbelievably
nine goslings had hatched, although one soon disappeared. They were seen
feeding on the area between the scrape and the river during the next 24 hours
but eventually the pair took them onto Hale Marsh were the majority of Canada
geese congregate.
A video of the nine goslings was filmed by Mr. V Phillips who has kindly allowed us to publish a link to it: >>Click here
The goose with her eight goslings. Photo © Ruth Hilton
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The goose and gander with their goslings.
Photo © Ruth Hilton
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Feeding out on Hale Marsh the next day.
We, and many people we have spoken to, have never heard of any eggs hatching after being under water for so long. Perhaps history has been made!!
CA & RP Cockbain
Thanks to Ruth for the use of her photos and Vincent for the use of his video..
