Birding/Canadian Goose

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Expert: - 7/10/2008


Question

Young Canadian Goose
I have found a goose that can't lift it's neck but can move its head to eat and drink!  He/she seems to keep it pulled to the left and back behind it's wing!  What could be the problem?  It has improved because it couldn't move it's head at first. It has been a week and that is the only thing that seems to have changed.  What advice can you give me about geese to help me with this goose?  What makes their neck move?

Answer
I'm not sure what the problem is but it could be pesticide poisoning. Given the fact that it has improved, that's my guess. Or some other toxic substance. What makes their neck move? Muscles, but the neck is very flexible and it would be the first set of muscles to show a bird has coordination problems.

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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