Snow White's Web Page
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Snow White's Web Page |
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Our Fowl-Weather Friend... Winter 2006/07 - On a cold, windy, and cloudy winter day, I arrived at the lake to see the flock of Canada geese with an unusual visitor floating in their midst. I had previously marveled that the lake had been absent any white ducks (just mallards and Canada geese), and now it seemed that one had finally arrived. As the flock strode ashore to feed on corn and bread, our new visitor joined in just like one of the regulars—quite unusual for a first-timer. This white bird was just a little larger than the mallards, but still only 1/4 to 1/3 the size of adult Canada geese. "Snow White" was an easy choice for the name due to the bright white feathers and the winter day. As Snow White walked about the geese and ducks, it began to appear more like a little goose than a duck to me. First, I noticed that she has a stubby beak (proportionately shorter than a Canada goose's beak), not a flattened-out bill. Secondly, she would occasionally thrust the neck forward as if to vocalize (a silent goose honk); ducks simply open their bills to quack. Because of the silent honking gestures, I'm guessing that Snow White is a girl. After doing a bit of research I learned that our new friend is a miniature snow goose, a species called "Ross's goose." Indeed, Snow White has the characteristic black wing tips (primaries), making beautiful wings in flight. |
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What's Good for Big Geese is Good for Little Geese Seeing a Ross's goose in the deep South is rare enough that we have to ask: "Why is Snow White here?" Ross's geese are native to the arctic—northern Canada. They migrate south to stay in well-defined wintering grounds in southern California or Texas, generally coastal areas west of the Mississipi River. So, it is quite rare to see a stray Ross's goose so far to the east (Atlanta). I wanted to see how comfortable Snow White was with being around humans and her familiarity with particular foods. She immediately took to the corn, but wheat bread was different. For the first 5 or 6 pieces I tossed to her, other geese snatched it away while she hesitated to inspect the food. Finally, she grabbed a piece of bread (about 2" across), but took about 30 seconds to swallow it. But Snow White is a quick learner. Later she would take the bread and dip it in water first before eating it! It does seem that this was the first time she had eaten bread. However, she allowed me to come within 4 to 5 feet, as close as many geese will allow, too. As Snow White walked about getting her share of the corn, she made a soft cooing sound, similar to a dove's call but at a rapid speed: "Coo-coo-coo-coo-coo-coo-coo..." This feisty little goose behaved as if it were a Canada goose that had an implicit right to be among the flock. When attempting to join in eating some cracked corn, Snow White simply hopped sideways to avoid another goose's attempt to "goose" (jab) her. Smaller size has its advantages. True to form (for a goose), she could easily dispatch a mallard duck by goosing it out of her way. On one occasion, she actually confronted a Canada goose and spread her wings as if to flog it; the Canada goose turned away—quite amazing, actually. If Snow White has a place in the pecking order, apparently it's not at the bottom. |
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At the end of the day, I watched to see what Snow White would do when the Canada geese flew away as usual to their roosting lake for the night. As the first couple of groups (5 to 8 geese) left, she looked up but then continued to forage in the grass. When the third group flew off the bank of the lake, Snow White hesitated for a moment and then flew behind them by about 100 feet. Then, for the first time, I could hear her characteristic high-pitched honks over the honks of the Canada geese. It appears that Snow White knows how to "hitch a ride" with Canada geese to go pond-hopping... a rather clever tactic to find food while wintering in the area. She has come back to visit the lake on two other days, both of which were cold, windy, and cloudy. It's always nice to have these rare visits from our fowl-weather arctic friend! |
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Copyright 2006-2007 Bruce Beverly. All Rights Reserved. May be used elsewhere only with written permission from author. |
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