We had some charming visitors yesterday

@TheHorse (207531)
Walnut Creek, California
April 18, 2016 8:43pm CST
I was heading out cycling yesterday when I spied this family resting in front of my house. By the time I went inside and grabbed my camera, they were waddling slowly South, toward my friend's place. I pretended to ignore them so dad, who was kind of standing guard (more like waddling guard), wouldn't hiss at me. If you run into Canada geese with their goslings on the ground, do not get too close to them. They will attack to protect their babies. I've seen it happen in the past.
31 people like this
32 responses
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326823)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 16
These are indeed charming visitors. We stopped for some ducks to cross the road once. Mum led the way then came and babies and Dad brought up the rear making sure none got lost. It was lovely to see.
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
I enjoy the ducks and geese we have here every Spring.
1 person likes this
Lenore Plassman
@sallypup (58353)
• Centralia, Washington
19 Apr 16
You are right. All critter Moms and Dads will attack you if their young are hassled. From cows to geese. Your photo sure is adorable.
1 person likes this
Lenore Plassman
@sallypup (58353)
• Centralia, Washington
19 Apr 16
@TheHorse Take an irritated cow seriously. They move fast and just one smack can kill you or maim you for life.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
@sallypup I got behind a conveniently placed tree and made myself invisible.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
The only animal that's ever chased me was a cow of all things.
2 people like this
weird_oh_me
@LdeL0318 (6402)
• Philippines
19 Apr 16
Yeah,not only with geese but also with hens.
1 person likes this
weird_oh_me
@LdeL0318 (6402)
• Philippines
19 Apr 16
@TheHorse Sure you don't want to mess up with them. Lol
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
I've never been attacked by a chicken. But I give them space when they have babies.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
@LdeL0318 I have an affinity for chickens. They seem so serious about what they're doing.
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C
@ShyBear88 (59306)
• Sterling, Virginia
19 Apr 16
We have them lol over Virginia my love seeing them but we look at them from a far. If we go to the petting zoo they have some to pet when they are babies.
1 person likes this
C
@ShyBear88 (59306)
• Sterling, Virginia
19 Apr 16
@TheHorse we havw pounds near where we live where we can bring bread or something to give to the ducks and geese. When we lived in Kentucky we had some outside of our apartment that lived T the pound out front and every now and then we would go up to water and throw them food. My daughter loved it.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
@ShyBear88 I've taught littlies to feed them by hand, but I also warn them about mommies with babies.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
We have them all over our parks. If they're not protecting babies, you can feed them by hand.
1 person likes this
Belle Starr (Iz)
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
19 Apr 16
That is just so cute and I know that Geese in general can be very mean. We had them when we were kids.
1 person likes this
Belle Starr (Iz)
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
26 Oct 17
@TheHorse lol ours were mean all the time. The mailman refused to deliver if they were out lol
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
27 Oct 17
@BelleStarr Maybe they had babies in the bushes.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Oct 17
I've seen the grown-ups be mean when their babies are around.
1 person likes this
Scott Ganschow
@teamfreak16 (43419)
• Denver, Colorado
19 Apr 16
Once I was riding to work, when I made eye contact with some baby geese. Mama goose flew after me. I've never sprinted that fast on a bike, before or since.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
Yep, I reckon that's about as angry a critter as you're gonna find.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
@teamfreak16 I was curious to see how close I could get to geese yesterday. But when I saw daddy standing a bit extra tall, I backed off.
1 person likes this
Scott Ganschow
@teamfreak16 (43419)
• Denver, Colorado
19 Apr 16
@TheHorse - The thing is, I new better and did it anyway.
1 person likes this
celticeagle
@celticeagle (160064)
• Boise, Idaho
19 Apr 16
Ahhh! We have them all over here. Duckies too.Some guy put up a Duck Crossing sign up the road a ways.
1 person likes this
celticeagle
@celticeagle (160064)
• Boise, Idaho
19 Apr 16
@TheHorse ....Me too.
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
Duck crossing signs always make me smile.
1 person likes this
Always smiling
@allknowing (130292)
• India
19 Apr 16
What a cute photo.
1 person likes this
Always smiling
@allknowing (130292)
• India
19 Apr 16
@TheHorse The parents look so protective. My mother had a poultry and the mother hen would take her chicks for rounds and had a special cry if she spotted a worm or something and they would all come rushing to the spot.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
@allknowing Was she teaching them how to catch worms?
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
It was fun watching them promenade through our parking lot.
1 person likes this
Michelle
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
19 Apr 16
Aw that is so cute, the family traveling
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
I wonder if they live near here or if they were just passing though.
1 person likes this
Michelle
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
19 Apr 16
@TheHorse Are there any lakes near you? It isn't common to see ducks where I live unless you're by some sort of lake
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby There are a few man-made lakes nearby.
1 person likes this
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
19 Apr 16
I have had them hiss at me like snakes on canal footpaths - it is quite scary
1 person likes this
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
19 Apr 16
@TheHorse apparently they kill about twelve people a year protecting their young and eggs
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
They generally don't get that way unless babies (or eggs) are involved. But when they're mad, they're very mad.
1 person likes this
Silvermist
@silvermist (19702)
• India
19 Apr 16
@TheHorse You did manage to take a nice photo.For me that is a rare sight.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
Thanks. Seeing the little family doing their thing made me smile.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 16
@silvermist It's hard not to feel happy when you see life renewing itself.
1 person likes this
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
19 Apr 16
so stinking adorable! And yeah, geese can get very mean if they think they need to protect their babies or nests
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
Once, when I was out cycling in Iowa, I had one rush out of a bush, hissing at me and doing the snaky neck thing. I hadn't even known she was there until she came out of her bush. Later, I went back (quietly), and saw her nest. I can't remember if she had eggs or babies at the time. She just eyed me suspiciously but didn't come out when I went back.
1 person likes this
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
20 Apr 16
@TheHorse I once had a run in with turkeys, ever since then been wary of large waddling birds, lol
S George
@shshiju (10342)
• Cochin, India
19 Apr 16
Cute one. Protectors are left and right and kids are center. Nice one.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
The littlies followed mom, and father stood (or waddled) guard a few feet away.
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S George
@shshiju (10342)
• Cochin, India
19 Apr 16
@TheHorse Great. father looks little bigger than the mother.
fishtiger58
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
19 Apr 16
they sure will they are very mean when their babies are around.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
But only if you look like you're about to move toward them. I tried to be "invisible" as I found the right angles to take the pictures. At first, they were just sitting in the driveway/parking lot in front of my house. I wondered how they decided on that as a resting spot.
1 person likes this
fishtiger58
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
19 Apr 16
@TheHorse I have also gotten pics of the babies. The geese around here never leave anymore and they have just multiplied ever since. They are becoming a problem.
Jabo
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
19 Apr 16
Whay a sweet photo - I wonder where they were going. Is there any water nearby?
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Oct 17
Only the pool!
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M.-L.
@MALUSE (69390)
• Germany
19 Apr 16
One also shouldn't get too near a swan's nest.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
Yep, you will be hissed at at the very least.
James Higgins
@JamesHxstatic (29384)
• Eugene, Oregon
20 Apr 16
Yes, they are quite protective. We have a flock in our nearby lake too.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Oct 17
I always enjoy the ducks and geese and their little ones.
1 person likes this
ElizabethWallace
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
19 Apr 16
All wild animals attack when their babies are around. All except doves. They don't seem to mind humans. I wonder why.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Oct 17
I've noticed that about doves too. Maybe that's why they became symbols of peace.
Morley Hunt
@Morleyhunt (21745)
• Canada
19 Apr 16
We've had the joy of watching them in the fields around the farm. One time while they were loading chicken from th farm to take to the processing plant, I suggested that the catching crew fill a couple of crate with Canada Geese. They knew I was joking. The bio security would have caused such repercussions that it just was t worth it. I still think it would be a great prank, if there wouldn't be so much fallout.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 16
I wonder what Canada goose tastes like. But I don't tell them that when I'm feeding them by hand.
Morley Hunt
@Morleyhunt (21745)
• Canada
20 Apr 16
@TheHorse I don't know, but when I was on a mission trip to the far north, I might actually have had some.....probably tastes a lot like chicken,
Rubeena Bashir Kunju
@rubyriaz007 (4188)
• India
26 Oct 17
Really they are very charming visitors. The little ones are really very cute... All parents will attack to protect their babies....
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (207531)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Oct 17
Yep, I've noticed that too. At the preschool, we have to be delicate when we tell parents that their kids are acting out. Else, they turn into Canada Geese and we might get our eyes pecked out.
1 person likes this