Snow Geese On The Causeway

For the last few days there have been two Snow Geese along the causeway to Antelope Island – an adult and a juvenile.  This species nests on the arctic tundra and is in the midst of migration to more hospitable climes for the winter.  Parents stay with their young through the first winter and families generally don’t break up until they reach their breeding grounds the following spring.

 

snow goose 5519 ron dudley

 1/500, f/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light

When we relocated these two birds yesterday morning (we’d also seen them two days before) the sun had not yet cleared the elevated causeway road so the birds were still in shade.   I include this image so adult and juvenile can be compared and so that you can see the dramatic changes that occur when the warm, early morning light advances on the birds.

 

 

snow goose 5573 ron dudley

  1/640, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light

 Here, the light has just reached the head and neck of the adult.

 

 

snow goose 5603 ron dudley

 1/640, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light

 A few seconds later it has advanced to the feet but not to the ground.  It was interesting to watch the light move down the bird.

 

 

snow goose 5704 ron dudley

  1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light

 I didn’t get a lot of action out of either bird – this yawn from the juvenile…

 

 

snow goose 5609 ron dudley

 1/1000, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light

 and a wing and foot stretch was about the only “excitement” I got.

 

 

snow goose 5661 ron dudley

  1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light

 The adult Snow Goose shows a distinctive black “grin patch”.

 

 

snow goose 5729 ron dudley

  1/1000, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light

One thing I found very interesting with these birds was the marked difference in general “demeanor” between juvenile and adult.  The adult always walked erect, with its neck in almost a vertical position – contrasted to the posture you see here from the juvenile with the neck retracted and the bird generally looking down as it followed the adult.  I had the impression that this body language of the juvenile might be an acknowledgement of the dominance of the adult, but of course that’s only a guess.   It was a curious and consistent contrast in behaviors between the two birds that I found interesting.

Ron

7 Comments

  1. Super shots!

  2. Oh, Ron, beautiful photos (as usual)! They let me imagine that I’m right there with you and the birds.

    That’s an interesting observation about the postural differences. I’d suggest that the adult is demonstrating greater vigilance, still shouldering the burden of parental responsibility. Juvenile looks like a pre-teen shuffling along thinking “Aw, Mom…”, while the parent knows that this chick doesn’t have a clue and could be snatched at any moment. OK,OK, anthromorphizing, I know. But on the other hand, isn’t this experience that we, as animals, have in common with many other species?

  3. Geese are strong, loyal, beautiful birds and these pictures do them justice. Thanks again for sharing.

  4. Amazingly beautiful series! Thanks for sharing!

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