Friday 19 December 2014

Goslings on Bingley Canal

Pictures of Geese: Greenhill Goslings

goose and goslings
Embden Goose with Goslings
This photo journal documents the appearance of the first goslings born along Bingley canal in 2011. These original pictures are particularly endearing and are coupled with information on geese you may not know.

Five tiny balls of fluff on legs have appeared on Greenhill, Bingley. Surprisingly not from any of the nests that have been under observation, so this one must have been well hidden.
This photo journal documents the first appearance of the first goslings born along Bingley canal in 2011. These original pictures are particularly endearing and are coupled with information on geese you may not know. Five tiny balls of fluff on legs have appeared on Greenhill, Bingley. Surprisingly not from any of the nests that have been under observation, so this one must have been well hidden.
It may seem the wrong time of year to be sharing pictures of baby birds but I have method in my madness. First of all I am moving content away from Hubpages and probably more importantly I am rasing money to feed the Greenhill Geese over the winter - something I do every year. They do get fed a lot by visitors with bread but bread actually has no nutritional value for birds and they cannot digest it properly so I buy grain so for then. It's expensive! So if you can help even with £1 or $1 and if you enjoy my pictures go to my FundRazr page --> Feed Greenhill Geese.

Adult Embden Geese with Goslings
Adult Embden Geese with Goslings
It is interesting to note that while only the female sits on the nest, and often the male is nowhere to be seen, now the goslings are here, both parents are diligent in their protection. Indeed, it has been noted that the males seem to know when the eggs are about to hatch. The adults do not feed the young, they are born able to feed themselves. They are, however, responsible for their safety.
Unlike mallard ducklings that tend to busily flit around quite far from their mother, the goslings stay very close to the parents, often right in between them. On land, where they graze most, the male is usually standing guard while the female sits and the goslings graze. Then while the male feeds the female will stand guard.

Adult Embden Geese and Goslings on Bingley Canal
Adult Embden Geese and Goslings on Bingley Canal
These baby birds are only one or at the most two days old. Once they hatch they are immediately led to water in our case the canal . 

Copyright notice

All the images used here are taken by AnnMackieMiller, copyright 2011.
The wildlife photographs are displayed here as low resolution - that means they look blurred when blown up - to discourage theft. However, high resolution electronic copies are available for sale for use on websites and blogs - NOT for use on products - that is retained for the author's own use.

Embden Geese Goslings on Bingley Canal
Goslings

Embden Geese Goslings on Bingley Canal
If you are interested in any of these or any other bird images, please feel free to contact me.


PHOTO GALLERY EMBDEN GEESE WITH DAY OLD GOSLINGS

Adult Embden Geese and Goslings on Bingley Canal
There is always at least one adult on watch

Adult Embden Geese and Goslings on Bingley Canal
Keeping watch as moorhen looks on

Adult Embden Geese and Goslings on Bingley Canal
A quick nips gets one moving

Adult Embden Geese and Goslings on Bingley Canal
One, Two, Three, Four ... there's one missing ...

Adult Embden Geese and Goslings on Bingley Canal
"I'll clear the way love,"




Saving Greenhill

Greenhilll Micklethwaite Wharf
Greenhill Site
Greenhill is a 40 acre green field site at Micklethwaite Wharf, on the Leeds to Liverpool canal, near Bingley in West Yorkshire. It is home to a resident flock of about 70 white/grey geese who have gone wild and bred here.  In addition there are dozens of mallard ducks, Swedish geese, whie domestic ducks, moorhens, swans, Canada geese and visiting greylag geese. The ancient hedgerows are important navigation for rare continental bats that roost in the area. With easy visual access to this site from the tow path on the other side of the canal, it is a favourite of every generation who come to watch the antics, to listen to the squabbling geese and to feed them.
It is where I do most of my goose photography and it is under threat. A private developer want to put 400 houses on the site and Greenhill Action Group are fighting the planning application. As usual the developers have the upper hand and are using all the tricks at their disposal to get planning permission to destroy this peaceful place.


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