| Actual Image
Waiting In The Queue (14)
Finland_in_Eton
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 156 W: 23 N: 225]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif) (876) | I came across this flock of half grown Egyptian Geese and their mum while I was out fishing. These two look like they are waiting to get to the water, but... what was actually going on was this: The carp were spawning and creating a huge ruckus splashing around in the shallows... it was scaring the the daylights out of these youngsters. Everytime things would get quiet and they'd go down to the water the fish would start up again. The goslings would go running back onto the grass as if the devil himself was after them. I think these two were waiting to see if some monster from the deep was going to pull one of their more daring siblings under. Their concentration on the carp allowed me to get fairly close, which was nice.
From Wikipedia:
The Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus) is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae, and is the only extant member of the genus Alopochen.
This 63-73 cm long species breeds widely in Africa except deserts and dense forests, and is locally abundant. They are found mostly in the Nile Valley and south of the Sahara. It is also introduced elsewhere; Great Britain has a self-sustaining feral population, dating back to the 18th century, though only formally added to the British list in 1971. In Britain, it is found mainly in East Anglia, in parkland with lakes.
This is a largely terrestrial species, which will also perch readily on trees and buildings. It swims well, and in flight looks heavy, more like a goose than a duck, hence the English name.
This is a territorial species in the breeding season, and will nest in a large variety of situations. Egyptian Geese pair for life.
The sexes of this striking species are identical in plumage, though the males average slightly larger. There is a fair amount of variation in plumage tone, with some birds greyer and others browner, but this is not sex or age related.
Egyptian geese typically eat seeds, leaves, grasses, and plant stems. Occasionally, they will eat locusts, worms, or other small animals.
Egyptian geese were considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians, and appeared in much of their artwork.
The Egyptian Goose is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. |
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