a bird for the summer solstice and all seasons from Mon
As the summer solstice approaches, if you happen to be walking in Riverfront Park on Pittsburgh's South Side, you'll probably see the avian equivalent of the TV families of the 1950s: Canada geese and their offspring. The goslings are half grown by now and almost old enough for their first flight feathers. Meanwhile the adults have begun to molt, that is, lose their flight feathers, and so will be grounded for several weeks. Mother and father goose supervise the grazing goslings and keep a watchful eye out for North Face Outlet 70% Off predators. By August, the whole family will be equipped with flight feathers and ready to migrate south for the winter (or not, if that is not the habit of those particular geese).
But Branta canadensis has improved on the nuclear family model. If you come upon a group of geese and goslings, they'll probably take to the water immediately (the protective parenting style of Canada geese was discussed in an earlier column ). And you may be surprised to see the number of North Face Womens Jackets goslings that belong to the family unit. Branta canadensis usually lays a clutch of 2 8 eggs. How then does a family end up with dozen or more goslings?
Some Canada geese engage in what North Face Vest Black ornithologists call "gang brooding." That is, two or more families of goslings are merged together and placed under the auspices of several parents. Why do they do this? Is the behavior learned or instinctive? Are the adult geese who form the gang broods related?
Researchers have found that gang brooding is learned behavior; experienced parents are more likely than new parents to join in a gang. And these are not extended North Face Outlet 70% Off families; the gang broods are formed by parents who are strangers as well as those who are blood kin. The best explanation for this behavior is that it provides more protection for the goslings; in a large group, the risk from predators for each individual gosling is lower.