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Grauwe Gans (Anser Anser)


Grauwe Gans (Anser Anser)
Photo Information
Copyright: Thijs van Balen jr (Pentaxfriend) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 477 W: 23 N: 1569] (6335)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-09-04
Categories: Birds
Camera: Pentax K20D, Pentax fa*4,5 300mm if ed, ISO 100, 67mm Hoya HMC
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/640 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-09-06 4:51
Viewed: 885
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anser
Species: A. anser
Binomial name: Anser anser


The Greylag Goose, Anser anser, is a bird with a wide range in the Old World. It is the type species of the genus Anser.

It was in pre-Linnean times known as the Wild Goose ("Anser ferus"). This species is the ancestor of domesticated geese in Europe and North America. Flocks of feral birds derived from domesticated birds are widespread.

The Greylag Goose is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.


The Greylag is a large goose, 74–84 cm (29–33 in) long with a 149–168 cm (59–66 in) wingspan and a body weight of 2.3–5.5 kg (5–12 lbs). It has a large head and almost triangular bill. The legs are pink, and the bird is easily identified in flight by the pale leading edge to the wing. It has a loud cackling call, kiYAAA-ga-ga, like the domestic goose.

The western European nominate subspecies, A. a. anser, has an orange-pink bill and is slightly smaller and darker than the pink-billed Asian race, A. a. rubrirostris. Eastern European birds are often intermediate in appearance.



Distribution and habitat
This species is found throughout the Old World, apparently breeding where suitable localities are to be found in many European countries, although it no longer breeds in southwestern Europe. Eastwards it extends across Asia to China.

The geese are migratory, moving south or west in winter, but Scottish breeders, some other populations in northwestern Europe, and feral flocks are largely resident. This species is one of the last to migrate, and it is thought that "greaylag" signifies in English "late", "last", or "slow", as in laggard, a loiterer, or old terms such as lagman, the last man, lagteeth, the posterior molar or "wisdom" teeth (as the last to appear), and lagclock, a clock that is behind time. Thus the Greylag Goose is the grey goose, which in England when the name was given, was not strongly migratory but lagged behind the other wild goose species when they left for their northern breeding quarters.

In Great Britain their numbers have declined as a breeding bird, retreating north to breed wild only in the Outer Hebrides and the northern mainland of Scotland. However during the 20th century, feral populations have been established elsewhere, and they have now re-colonised much of England. The breeding habitat is a variety of wetlands including marshes, lakes, and damp heather moors.

In Norway, the number of greylag goose is estimated to have increased three- to fivefold during the last 15-20 years. As a consequence, farmers' problems caused by geose grazing on farmland has increased considerably. This problem is also evident for the pink-footed goose.

Within science, the greylag goose is most notable as being the bird with which the ethologist Konrad Lorenz first did his major studying into the behavioural phenomenon of imprinting.



More info


Sound and Dutch note

Model PENTAX K20D
Date/time original 4-9-2008 13:19:47
Shutter speed value 1/640 s
Aperture value f/4.5
ISO speed ratings ISO 100
Exposure bias value 1.30 eV
Metering mode Center weighted average
Focal length 300 mm
White balance Auto white balance
techranger, nglen, rousettus, Argus has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Fantastic capture of this intently flying trinity of geese in flight and formation. Beautifully done and presented. Also useful, informative notes.

Larry

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2398 W: 94 N: 5543] (17640)
  • [2008-09-06 7:56]

Hallo Thijs,
Erg mooie foto van deze ganzen in de vlucht. De belichting en scherpte zijn prachtig. Kleine tip: Persoonlijk zou ik de foto 180 graden gespiegeld hebben. Voor het oog is het prettiger als ze van links naar rechts vliegen. (Dit verzin ik niet zelf, maar het werkt wel).
Goed weekend,
Peter

  • Great 
  • mariki Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1060 W: 61 N: 2306] (9467)
  • [2008-09-06 10:54]

Hello Thijs,

Not home, only marking.
Mariki

  • Great 
  • sayat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 290 W: 0 N: 258] (1457)
  • [2008-09-06 11:47]

Hi Thijs,
Amazing shot! Should be very difficult to take. Excellent to capture them in motion, thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2916 W: 34 N: 8651] (32250)
  • [2008-09-06 11:48]

Hi Thijs. Good timing to get the tree Greylags in flight . This is one goose i like we have many on a pond not far from my home . Good detail in the open wing with natural looking colours. well done TFS.
Nick..

Hello Thijs,
what a great capture for geese in flight. I like very much POV and their symetry. Sharp details of focus, lightinh and colors wonderful. Nicely composed. Thanks for sharing, best wishes,
Ahmet

An other flight picture from you! This is turning out to be good sets of shots :-). Again the composition and the action is good.
TFS
Goutham R

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3824 W: 190 N: 11393] (35107)
  • [2008-09-27 6:47]

Hello Thijs,
An excellent group in-flight of three Greylags coming in to land. The lighting, technical quality, composition, POV and wing positions all contribute to make this a very fine image.
Thanks for sharing it and I'm sorry I missed this before!
Regards,
Ivan

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