Expert: Walter Hintz - 7/23/2010

Question
Hello Dr. Hintz!  Here is another question from my observation of the goose flock.  They were feeding in a dry, grassy vacant lot.  Various individuals would randomly left a leg at a 45-degree angle, splay the foot, and stand like that for about half a minute or a little less.  They made no particular call about it, nor was it connected with other behavior like elimination.  Do you have an explanation?  Thanks!

Answer
Sorry Ken, but I would have to spend more time observing this behavior before coming to any conclusions. Wading birds do this to rest a leg but geese have a low offset center of gravity. The splaying of the foot seems akin to stretching just as you or I might stretch fingers