Fine Feathered Travelers

Geese are found virtually everywhere. There’s the wild Canada goose, and halfway around the world is the snow goose of Siberia. There is the pied goose, which lives “down under” in Australia. The rarely seen Hawaiian goose lives out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The little brant goose nests in very cold Arctic areas. The wild goose called the greylag is found in Europe.

Geese spend a lot of time in the water. Like ducks, they have a coat of oil on their feathers that keeps them from getting too wet. And the soft feathers beneath, called “down,” keep them warm even in the iciest of waters. Down is so good at keeping things warm that people often use it in winter coats and in comforters. It’s also good in pillows because it’s so soft.

Geese are fairly large birds, often standing three feet tall despite their short legs. Geese may look somewhat silly when they waddle on land. But their sturdy legs actually help them walk more steadily than ducks or swans do.

Geese have webbed feet that make them strong swimmers. They are also powerful fliers. They can make especially long flights during their annual migrations to their winter feeding grounds. You may see groups of geese traveling south in the fall in lines that make a V shape. This formation helps keep them from getting tired as they fly because each goose gets a lift from the air flowing off the goose ahead. []

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Banda Aceh, Indonesia

15th April 2016

TM. Noumi