On a cool morning of abundant sunshine and moderate northwest wind, walking past the riprap on the southern side of the pier at low tide, I spot, spaced out in the shallow water, several Canada geese and, further along, a few brants, smaller sea geese. Four of the Canada geese are six-week-old goslings, two are their parents, and two are another pair of adults; the brants are five in number. Every one of the geese, adults and young, both species, all thirteen, are engaged in morning ablutions. At any one time, some are nearly totally immersed, others are erect with wings spread, still others are shaking river water from their bodies, and the remaining ones are preening and smoothing feathers. Swimming, dipping, dunking, splashing, rising, flapping, grooming repeated over and again, by each goose and every goose, until the Canada geese clamber on to the rocks to bask, to rest and dry, and the brants gather just off the shore to float, to rest.
Sharing the Waters (But Not Too Much)
Returning later, I see that all the geese remain where I saw them earlier. As I watch, the family of six geese becomes restless, one by one rising, shaking itself, and wiggling its tail, before heading toward the water. Noting that the other pair without offspring has stayed near the family for some time, I observe them more closely, realizing that they have both entered the molting stage. For the parents, the molting process began approximately two weeks before.
(Adult Canada geese, like most waterfowl, undergo a complete molt, replacing frayed, or lost, feathers every year. Molting takes approximately 30 to 35 days between June and August, with all the flight feathers lost simultaneously, rendering the adults as flightless as their young.)
Day length, which effects hormone levels, is the proximal cue for molt initiation, but since two other pairs of geese, one with two-week-old goslings and one with none, have not yet begun to molt, I suspect that some factor, other than day length, is influencing the onset of the molt. Because the pair has continued to associate amicably with the family, I speculate there is a relationship, perhaps genetic, between the family and the pair, that is inducing the early molt. As the family moves toward the area where the pair recline, I make a silent wager with myself: That goose pair will enter the water after the family has swum by.
When the last family member passes in front of the associated pair, first one arises, then the second. After a shake and tail wag, each of the pair descends the gentle, but rocky, slope to enter the river. They swim directly out into deeper water, turn right, and travel parallel to the pier, until coming abreast of the family, whereupon they take up position as escorts, moving with the family, only farther out from shore.
Slowly the family’s six goose flotilla makes its way toward the end of the pier where the brants still float. At the approach of the Canada geese, the brants form a tight cluster and issue threats, lowering their heads, stretching their necks, opening their mouths, and possibly hissing, appearing from shore like some five-headed hydra.. The Canada geese, larger in size and greater in number, persist, closing the distance between the goose groups. Reluctantly, the brants turn, giving up space, only to turn back, delivering more warnings. Relentlessly, the Canada geese proceed on their course; the brants unwillingly give way, offering more challenges. Then, behind the brants, the two escorting geese materialize. Now, confronted by eight Canada geese, the brants grudgingly drift to deeper water, allowing the other geese transit between themselves and the pier, but not before presenting one last threat display. Immediately following the passage of the Canada geese, the brants reclaim their space on the river.
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