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Birding/abandoned goose eggs?

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Expert: - 3/24/2008


Question
The goose built a nest on the island in my pond. she sat on her eggs just a couple of days and then rolled them out of the nest one went in the pond and she placed two in holes about 6 inches deep and the other she just left out in the open on the island. She and her mate have been gone for about a day. why would she do this?

Answer
I can't give a specific answer as I don't know the exact situation. It appears that the goose is not really ready for nesting - either the situation is not right (weather, food supply, etc), or she is too young and inexperienced. Or there could have been some disturbance from people, other animals, etc. She may renest when the situation improves. Roger Lederer

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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