Dozens of Baby Geese Follow Parents in Search of Food

Dozens of baby geese follow parents in search of food around Lake Champlain in Shelburne, Vermont. What a surprise it was to see so many goslings trailing behind multiple parents, swimming in Lake Champlain and hiking beyond the shoreline debris through pastures and marshes then back again to the lake in search of food. Canadian geese and their goslings may travel up to 2 miles in one day when looking for food. These family groups stick together as parents "take shifts" watching out for each other's young. This provides added protection for goslings from predators and breaks for parents when they share responsibilities.

[@wildthunderbird]

That was sweet! The smaller babies do a pretty good job keeping up with the bigger babies. It's nice the parents take turns babysitting. At first I thought this was in Florida and worried an alligator might get the babies but it's in Vermont. Looks like a beautiful place. Thank you spending the day with the geese, and taking us along! 😊🦆🦆🦆🦆

[@MichelleSiefkenPhotography]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it! I'm so glad I found these families of geese during my visit! No worries about gators here. In fact, the goslings thrive within their tight-knit and attentive family groups. I accessed this shoreline from Shelburne Farms, VT - beautiful place with a historic inn and farmhouse not to mention amazing views of the mountains and lake. Definitely worth many visits!

[@wildthunderbird]

@@MichelleSiefkenPhotography 😊💐

[@frankrounding9905]

What a huge family. I don't know how they could sit on that many eggs. At one point it was like drill instructors marching them across the road. Good one.

[@MichelleSiefkenPhotography]

Thanks Frank! There are at least 2 sets of parents for the 24 eggs, but if each of the moms had 12 eggs that’s still a lot to manage! I had to laugh when you said “drill instructors!” They really do seem like it especially when I see their body gestures and hear their occasional vocal “reprimands!” 😁

[@johnortmann3098]

@@MichelleSiefkenPhotography Canada geese routinely drive off other nearby nesting pairs after their eggs have hatched. This makes good Darwinian sense. If you have six young following you around and a snapping turtle gets one, there's a 100% chance it was yours. If you have six of yours and six from another brood, the chances is only 50%. This strategy only works for species with precocial young that feed themselves. The marginal cost to the parents of adding another adopted young is basically zero.

[@MichelleSiefkenPhotography]

@@johnortmann3098 had never thought of it this way. Thanks for sharing.

[@bryan3dguitar]

It's interesting that the adults have much longer necks proportionately, than they do as goslings...

[@MichelleSiefkenPhotography]

I see what you mean, but their necks do stretch out when they’re preening or when they sense danger. I’ve also noticed that different kinds of baby birds have huge feet. As the saying goes… “they’ll grow into those feet.”