the Mute Swan cob doesn't want the Canada Geese raising their goslings on his lake. Whenever he sees them he chases them out of the water. The geese can easily flee but the goslings can't and become separated from their parents. Isolated, the goslings cannot survive for long and are an easy target for the Seagulls, Herons and Crows..
1) This GREY HERON has a nest nearby and two hungry chicks to feed. He prefers to stand in shallow water and wait for a fish to swim by but today he does not have the patience to wait. His babes are hungry and he has spotted a gosling on its own. He perches on a park bench to take a closer look and waits for it to come nearer but it seems to be moving away from him. He swoops down and lunges at it before it gets too far away and manages to pick it out of the water without too much trouble.
2) This CARRION CROW cannot swim and isn't usually seen near the water. It notices that the swan and geese are having a heated argument and boldly walks up to where they are. The crow isn't afraid of either of these birds even though they are much bigger, it can move much quicker and swifter than they. It behaves like an opportunist thief as it stoops down and pulls a gosling out of the water, whilst the geese are distracted. The geese are horrified and honk in despair but the crow isn't bothered and flies off.The crow plucks the feathers from the gosling before feasting on it.
3) This LESSER BLACK-BACK GULL is at home in the water, unlike the heron and the crow, who both prefer to have their feet on the ground when they catch their prey.
These seagulls are always hovering around this lake. Throughout spring , they are constantly trying to snatch a duckling, or a gosling, and they are experts at it. I was surprised that they were able to swallow the gosling whole.
This is the worst place for Canadian Geese to raise their young. They seem oblivious to the dangers that surround them. It is not only goslings that are being attacked but ducklings and grebe chicks too, mostly by seagulls. The heron and crow only get involved when the chicks come close to the land. There is no law and order in this world of birds, they can do whatever they want and get away with it. They have to survive and if that means eating another bird's chicks, then so be it. This is the way of nature.
23 май 2021
