Goose-Eye View

Bugsworth Basin, Derbyshire

These photos were taken right at the end of May. During May and June, the geese at Bugsworth are mainly occupied with bringing up the goslings – but not all of them.

The Family

These pictures show the main resident family at the basin at that time. The goslings are roughly 3 weeks old, and doing well. There are four goslings, and both parents are actively guarding them.

Danger

But even good goose parents can’t guard them from every danger. And sadly, often the problem is humans. The pictures were poor because I didn’t see the dogs coming. Fortunately, the gander did.

They were quietly feeding on the grass when two off-lead dogs ran over. Luckily, an alarm call from dad and they all made it into the water in time.

Although it’s obviously common sense and recommended, the owners of the dogs aren’t legally required to keep them on a lead, even around wildlife, which seems a shame to me. If I had seen the dogs coming and I had felt afraid that I might be injured, that could have been a crime. But the geese being frightened and disturbed, sadly often isn’t unless the dogs are found to be “dangerously out of control”.

This time it worked out okay, but any wildlife rescuer will tell you it frequently doesn’t.

Another Family

This wasn’t the only budding family in the basin. There was another pair of geese, with the goose nesting. It’s likely this was a second attempt and given her choice of nest site – close to a wall on the field area where dogs play – that probably isn’t surprising. You can see her in the background of the first photo, behind our goslings.

Her gander was nearby, and he took a dim view of the goslings on his turf. Most of the time he was fine with them, but every now and then he felt the need to offer a dangerous reminder.

Happily again, this gosling escaped unharmed but perhaps a little wiser. You can see the food pellet being dropped…. I had supplied that pellet. These geese are human fed all the time, but on this occassion it’s possible I made this territory conflict worse and endangered this gosling. It’s something to think about when feeding wild birds.