Rose Cottage Ltd

Busy, busy times but I did manage to get a updated photo of some of the goslings yesterday:

Another inch+ of rain during the week really has the lake looking better for water level than it has in the last 4 or 5 years.

Here’s a shot showing the dock first week of June 2012:

And here it is – yesterday:

Hard to tell from the pictures but this is nearly a foot higher water level than last year.

Thought I heard the first Hummingbird yesterday but didn’t see it. Time to get those feeders out! And a good time to enter the Duncraft sweepstakes…Win $250 Duncraft Shopping Spree – Enter here at duncraft.com.

I have to keep my distance a bit from the goslings. They are getting used to seeing me and know that I will throw food for them so they come running – which does NOT make the parents very happy.

I took this first picture from around the corner of the house before they saw me…

Then I was spied…

…and off and running they came. This is making for some tough strategic planning around the house and yard when it is time for Cato to head outside. And a belated happy first birthday to him this past weekend. He’s being very good with the goslings – Lord, thank you for the assistance!

And so far, all 6 still present and accounted for!

The family had just returned from a “little” walk around the 15 acre pasture next door. I wonder how the little ones keep up on those tiny little legs!

There was a nasty looking raccoon here last weekend. I hope it is long gone or it could spell trouble for the geese…

And here they are on their very first birthday!

I think one or two hatched yesterday and although you can’t see them all in this picture, 6 goslings are now out and about, but “Daisy” is not allowing them off the nest just yet.

It was a bit chilly this morning in Central North Carolina so Daisy will continue to keep her nest intact and will make sure her children have a safe place to sleep.

I noticed she seemed to wait this morning until that little spot of sunlight came through the trees before she stood up and “revealed” her nest and goslings. They seem to like the warmth of the sun and for the moment, continue to huddle together outside the eggs much as they did before they hatched!

More pictures later this week!

I don’t think the lake is large enough for the “6 Geese A-Laying” mentioned in the Christmas carol – but there seems to be room for three!

There was a successful nest in this first location last year so I’m not surprised they’re back this season.

The only problem is that this spot is just to the left of the path leading around the lake. The male goose (gander) is very protective of his mate on the nest so if I don’t want to be chased – I’ll need to swing a wider path away from the nest – most particularly when I am walking the dog, Cato. This is his first year here during “nesting” season and I’ll need to work hard to make sure there are no incidents.

The second nest is “Daisy’s” at the back of the house. She’s an expert at that thing realtors say is most important, “location, location, location.”

She picked this spot off the lake which is maybe less convenient for her needs, but keeps her – and the nest – further away from the other dozen or so geese frequenting the lake.

This spot is being used for the 3rd year so “Mother” really must know best!

The third nest is my biggest problem. As you can see from the image, the nest is just to the right of the path. The male protecting this nest has decided that most of this side of the lake is HIS property!

I tried to have a conversation with him yesterday to inform him that his name is NOT on the property’s mortgage and that I can walk where I want to walk but I’m not sure he got my meaning!

I did get a bit of jump on this one though…while noticing about 45 days ago that these two geese were hanging around this area, I cut back and then raked a path about 10 feet higher up and away from the lake. So although he will hiss at me as Cato and I pass through – I don’t think he feels too threatened by our presence.

After checking my calendar from last year, it looks like the geese went on their nests full-time about 2 weeks later than in 2012. This should mean goslings will hatch on or just before 1 May 2013.

“Daisy” has been on her nest nearly 24/7 for the past week. I got a quick glimpse yesterday and there are 3 eggs in her nest. Last year she ended up with 6 goslings so it looks like she’s about half-way through her “processing” for this season.

She seems to have appreciated my “home-building” assistance by my giving her ready access to some straw for her nest. She’s made good use of it!

It’s Canada Goose mating time at the lake for 2013! The geese started forming obvious “couples” a few weeks ago and are now starting to make their preferred nesting areas known to other geese on the lake.

For those not living in rural areas – or for those who don’t have a few years of goose-watching experience, this is a really good time to give any geese you see a bit of space. The male goose is very protective of his mate – as humans would be if they actually mated for life! Once the goslings come along, as early as mid-April or so, both the female and male adult will be more than happy to chase you away from them.

Considering that ponds geese once used as natural habitats are getting covered with homes and concrete and asphalt at an alarming rate, give geese trying to find their way in more suburban areas a break when you can. They’re adjusting as well to their constantly changing available landscape as well as or better than some humans…

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For anyone who has followed the progress of the goslings born on the lake in 2012, here’s a quick update.

There was a bit of problem when the stray dog showed up Memorial Day weekend. The adult geese decided the newcomer did not look very well trained in goose etiquette and they left the lake for almost two weeks.

Unfortunately, when the two families returned, both males and one gosling from each family were missing. I’ve never had this happen since I’ve been at the lake – for males to just go missing.

Since the two groups were traveling together, I fear that a raccoon or fox, or maybe even a bobcat attacked the group. The males probably tried to defend and died, allowing the females and the 7 remaining goslings to escape. Nothing short of death would make the male geese leave their family.

This is very sad for the remaining “Moms” since geese mate for life and my little favorite Mother Goose, Daisy, will never nest at Rose Cottage again. But some of HER children may…

You can see earlier pictures of these two groups in my prior post. Down to 3 goslings in the younger group and 4 in the first-born group.

Here are the pre-teenagers now at 6 1/2 weeks:

And here is one from the older group of goslings, now at about 8 1/2 weeks:

You can see a huge difference in just the two-week gap in age. The older goslings look much more “goose-like” until you get really close and notice the quills still awaiting full feathers!

There are still many predators lurking around the far end of the lake, in the lake (snapping turtles,) and in the 180 acre wooded property behind mine. Hopefully, these two groups will continue to hang together and keep all the goslings safe to maturity.

Think human babies grow quickly? The lake’s 2012 model goslings have returned for a visit. One group is now 3 weeks old, the other, 4 weeks old. Major changes happen to them at this time of their life.

For a recap…otherwise known as the never-ending “Rose Cottage Goose Chronicles”!

Here is the group of 6 born on their lake nest April 18, 2012. By the time this picture was taken on April 19th, one had already gone missing. You’ll see them again in the third picture. 4 of the original 6 goslings remain.

Two Days Old

The 3 week old group left for their normal two-week or so walkabout with 4 goslings and returned with only 3. This is a better percentage than last year when the group born on the lake originally had 5 goslings and by the 2 month point, were down to one lone gosling.

Three weeks old.

The second group shown below is at the 4 weeks old stage and you can see massive differences between them and those shown above. This group left with 5 geese and returned with 4.

Four weeks old

There are some trying times left for them – turtles, snakes, foxes, and I hear rumors of coyotes and bobcats in the vicinity. Fingers crossed.