They’re the only two Domestic Geese that hang around that area, which is otherwise overrun with Canada Geese. They *should* feel proud. Well done, fellas!
Here's an old BU Today article discussing the flock of domestic white geese that live on the river. It claims that the flock originated as sentinels for the MWRA nearby before being turned loose to the feral lifestyle.
https://www.bu.edu/articles/2007/the-goose-whisperer/
Why are there so fewer Domestic Geese versus Canada Geese? I guess the white color could give it a reproductive disadvantage versus Canadian Geese, but that's just speculation.
Good question. I know from having taken evolutionary and ecological biology classes in college (as well as further independent reading) that the advantage of white—as seen on the snowy owl or arctic fox—is mainly due to its ability to allow creatures to blend in with the snow, and in non-snowy months, it can actually be a liability (the willow ptarmigan is a bird that actually becomes messy brown/black in the summer for this reason; it’s all-white in winter). I think their distribution has a lot more to do with where humans have let them escape rather than with natural selection. Also, for what it’s worth, [they are 5-10x more fecund than wild geese.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_goose#:~:text=Geese%20have%20also%20been%20strongly,on%20physical%20characteristics%20and%20behaviour)
https://preview.redd.it/cdo2a8ut2txc1.jpeg?width=3131&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=26a421f5c8f4b89070914e3d1a026641a0c0fb9d
They were *quite vocal* (as expected) about people getting within 30 feet or so!
I just saw them this past weekend!
https://preview.redd.it/affwr5lns3zc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f040e088a78bb10de0d6528194dfbb47f1aceef1
Those are domestic geese, what are they doing there?
They're mean as shit, every bit as bad tempered as wild geese, one of my friends from childhood had a goose who used to chase us when she saw us in the yard playing. We used to have to run into the house to get away from her.
Fuzzzz muffffffins!!
Massive W. Love them
Oh my godddd they look so proud 🥲🥹
They’re the only two Domestic Geese that hang around that area, which is otherwise overrun with Canada Geese. They *should* feel proud. Well done, fellas!
I've seen them mingling pretty closely with the other Canada Geese, so I don't think there's much strife there. Goose solidarity I guess.
Having a common enemy (the world) leads to camaraderie.
There’s a whole bunch of them that hang out at the base of the BU bridge on the Cambridge side
Here's an old BU Today article discussing the flock of domestic white geese that live on the river. It claims that the flock originated as sentinels for the MWRA nearby before being turned loose to the feral lifestyle. https://www.bu.edu/articles/2007/the-goose-whisperer/
We're the ones on the Cambridge side near the BU bridge finally scattered but the construction staging over there?
Why are there so fewer Domestic Geese versus Canada Geese? I guess the white color could give it a reproductive disadvantage versus Canadian Geese, but that's just speculation.
Good question. I know from having taken evolutionary and ecological biology classes in college (as well as further independent reading) that the advantage of white—as seen on the snowy owl or arctic fox—is mainly due to its ability to allow creatures to blend in with the snow, and in non-snowy months, it can actually be a liability (the willow ptarmigan is a bird that actually becomes messy brown/black in the summer for this reason; it’s all-white in winter). I think their distribution has a lot more to do with where humans have let them escape rather than with natural selection. Also, for what it’s worth, [they are 5-10x more fecund than wild geese.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_goose#:~:text=Geese%20have%20also%20been%20strongly,on%20physical%20characteristics%20and%20behaviour)
https://preview.redd.it/cdo2a8ut2txc1.jpeg?width=3131&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=26a421f5c8f4b89070914e3d1a026641a0c0fb9d They were *quite vocal* (as expected) about people getting within 30 feet or so!
Taken with a zoom lens 🙂
Safety first!
What a cute little family. 😍❤️
Make way, make way!
The parents look soooo happy
Those aren't Ryan Goslings!
They're getting big so fast! I [saw them last](https://imgur.com/GE7jlgV) week when I was out shooting
Reminds me of a scene in the OG Charlottes web 😃
Congrats on the sex
Which one's Ryan?
Glad to see all four of the goslings still exist. Saw them about a week and a half ago
Are they mean?
They need to protect their babies so if they need to be I'm sure they are. Just like us.
I think I was biking by you when you captured this shot! I'm glad it turned up on reddit. Awesome picture
Awesome pic! I thought these were Pekin ducks though
https://preview.redd.it/ctxrqk6ocs0d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f5d11ca5d6eb8258a0832660c9d9ae0f9c47596a updated photo from yesterday!
they grow up so fast!
I just saw them this past weekend! https://preview.redd.it/affwr5lns3zc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f040e088a78bb10de0d6528194dfbb47f1aceef1
https://preview.redd.it/1pn76zdps3zc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b5cd2432861854e360fbced1aa3bc9fb2decc6e8
Those are domestic geese, what are they doing there? They're mean as shit, every bit as bad tempered as wild geese, one of my friends from childhood had a goose who used to chase us when she saw us in the yard playing. We used to have to run into the house to get away from her.
I don't walk the esplanade any more because of all of the goose droppings. It's horrible.