Hawk and Goslings

[yourlibrarian]

Not together! I daresay it would be a brave hawk that would challenge the overprotective parents that are geese. These are the first bird babies we've seen so far this year.



We've been seeing the hawk come by our balcony a few times, but this was the only one we were able to get clear pics of.

Comments

[redsixwing]

Beautiful pictures! Hahah, yes, it'd be a very bold hawk to challenge a goose.

[yourlibrarian]

I'd kind of like to see the face off!

[pauraque]

Hm, I don't seem to be able to see the photos. Maybe because they're linked from pillowfort?

[yourlibrarian]

That's odd -- I link all my photos from there and there doesn't seem to have been an issue in the past 😕

[shirebound]

I've never seen hawk feathers so clearly before. Great shots! And awwww, bird babies.

[yourlibrarian]

It was a first for us too!

[adafrog]

Cool.

[minoanmiss]

Beautiful!

[yourlibrarian]

🙂

[yourlibrarian]

It's an eye catcher!

[pauraque]

The issue was on my end, just a browser error! Now that I can see your pics - aw, goslings. I think your balcony friend is an immature Cooper's Hawk.

[yourlibrarian]

Yes, we've seen quite a few of its kind around. Glad the pics showed up!

[alchemicink]

Aww the babies are so adorable 🥰 I love how fuzzy they are when they're that young

And the hawk is so cool! Looks so intensely focused

[cmcmck]

We saw a mallard female in Cornwall take off and attack a red kite (about four times her size) when she was protecting chicks!

[adore]

the goslings are so cute! the hawk is so cool!

[yourlibrarian]

Ooh, that must have been a sight! The mallards here seem relatively indifferent to their broods. It's not that they abandon them or anything, in fact they grown babies can be seen hanging around with their moms. But they don't seem to be any more protective than they usually are for themselves.

[yourlibrarian]

Haha, that kind of sums it up 😄

[yourlibrarian]

I was particularly amused by the gosling in the top right of the second pic. Chubby gosling butt!

[kaishin108]

Beautiful photos. I saw two groups of baby geese with their parents when I walked my dog around our local park that has a pond a few days ago. But with my dog, I could not get a photo so it's extra fun to see these. My dog behaved well, no barking, just very curious, she's pretty good but that gander was really staring her down as we walked on the path about 4 ft. away. I am in Southern Idaho. :)

[yourlibrarian]

When we first moved here there were a LOT of geese around our lake. In fact they became a problem, particularly around nesting and "growing" season when they became more aggressive. The apartment complex got a dog and it began patrolling the lake every few days. The geese became scarce and there was no nesting. At the time there was a no pets policy for all tenants.

A year after Covid, the policy was changed, and now there are many people walking dogs around the lake. This geese pair are the only ones who seem to have nested here, but I've been curious how those encounters have gone. The dogs must all be leashed but I have observed a variety of temperaments.

[kaishin108]

We are full up on geese around here, ha hah! We have so many parks with water that they often stay here all year but the Canadian geese are still protected wildlife so that is good.

What they do here for the large parks is, in the fall and winter, is they allow dogs be 'off leash' to encourage the geese to migrate. Not sure it's working though. I love geese and it's kind of funny when they stop traffic, lol.

[yourlibrarian]

We've got a similar issue here. Although our particular neighborhood is fairly goose free other than occasional visits, the surrounding area has plenty. And yes, they are fairly unconcerned about cars and think nothing of crossing roads with busy traffic. In fact, I've seen them nesting in the small lane medians.

[kaishin108]

Whoa! That is even worse than here, nesting in the medians.

[scintilla10]

Aww, love those fluffy babies! And gosh, just look at the talons on that hawk, wow,

[yourlibrarian]

I know, right? Yikes.

[turlough]

That is one VERY watchful parent! And such adorable little fuzzy goslings!

I've never seen a bird of prey this close. I've always thought they avoided humans so I'm fascinated to hear this one's been visiting your balcony.

[yourlibrarian]

It's only stopped in a few times (after little birds, which it's caught at least once). But we have had others stop in a few times over the years too. (I'm assuming this one is the same one I've seen a few times before this year).

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>These are the first bird babies we've seen so far this year.<<

They are adorable. It looks like goslings from at least 2 clutches are together, based on sizes.

>>We've been seeing the hawk come by our balcony a few times, but this was the only one we were able to get clear pics of.<<

Wow, that's a great view!

Re: Thoughts

[yourlibrarian]

Thanks! The babies have been growing really fast. Got some more pics yesterday -- they're going to be adolescents in another week or so.