Try to guess the name of the bird by its description. She has a large body, 60-70 centimeters long and weighing 1-2.5 kg. The plumage below is white. The mask is white, but with black bridles on the cheeks. The upper plumage is black, as are the legs and beak. Who is it? Of course, a white-cheeked geese. This representative of birds will be discussed in our article.
Habitat
White-breasted goose is quite rare. Its main habitats are sea coasts, a wet tundra. It prefers rocky northern cliffs, steep slopes, the shores of mountain lakes and streams. Great for her eastern Greenland and Svalbard. He also loves the mountain landscape alternating with valleys covered with green, lush grass. In our country, she lives on the islands of Vaigach and Novaya Zemlya. For nesting, he selects cliffs, rocks, coastal islets. Such places that predators cannot reach to ruin her nest.
Hard trip
With the onset of cold weather, geese fly to the Netherlands, to the north-west of Germany, sometimes to Belgium and to the north-west of France. In the winter season, in search of food, they can go to the settlements. In spring, the white-cheeked goose, the photo of which is presented in this article, returns to the north.
Scientists have found that they always fly along a certain route. Initially heading west, the white-chested geese is gradually changing its route. Flies over the northwestern regions of Germany, then over the Jutland peninsula. After that, it rushes to the southern islands of Denmark and the southern coast of Sweden.
Of course, such a long way for the birds to not fly without stopping. Therefore, they rest first on the island of Gotland, then in Western Estonia. Having rested for the third time on the Kanin Peninsula, the white-cheeked geese finally makes the last flight and finds itself on Vaygach Island or on Novaya Zemlya.
Lifestyle
The described birds prefer to live in packs. They feed on plants and crops. At night, white-chested geese are not active. In natural habitats can live up to 25 years. But this is because it is difficult for them to get food, to protect themselves from predators. In captivity, where this bird lives in comfortable conditions with abundant food and the absence of danger, it can live for 30 years.
Hunting a white-breasted geese is prohibited. This bird does not breed very actively, because it lives in small spaces and will not be able to feed more numerous offspring. If you allow hunting for this bird, then this species can quickly disappear from our planet. Therefore, the white-chested geese is also protected. The Red Book, in which information about it is entered, is a confirmation of this.
Recently, it is believed that the population of these birds began to grow. Therefore, some hunters began to get this bird and even make decoys for the white-breasted goose. Do not rush to conclusions. The population can be sharply reduced as a result of such actions, which are also prohibited.
The myth of reproduction
This bird nests in such secret places that for a long time people could not see how its chicks were born. This contributed to the fact that in the Middle Ages it was allowed to eat meat in fasting, as it was believed that geese chicks were born in a miraculous way, not characteristic of animals.
It's funny, but just a few centuries ago, people thought that these representatives of birds originate in sea water, according to one version, from spruce wood that fell there, and on the other - from special shells. The white-breasted geese was even called a sea duck. But nevertheless, taking into account her lifestyle, reminiscent of duck, poultry was forbidden to eat in fasting.
In fact
Chicks of white-cheeked geese are born from eggs, which these birds lay in nests of 3-5 pieces. Geese breed in colonies of up to 75 pairs. But they do not stack together, but keep the distance between the nests up to 10 meters. For their nest, they choose natural depressions that are lined with moss, algae, lichen, and their down. In addition, they make a roller around it from the same material.
The female is engaged in incubation, however, the male also takes part in the fate of the future offspring. He does not move away from the nest, but protects it from extraneous attacks.
Nesting usually begins in May, and ends in September. Born chicks are covered in fluff. They do not remain in the nest, but, having dried out, leave it and go down the rocks down to their parents, who take them to feeding places. Most often to freshwater bodies of water. Chicks can fly in 40-45 days.
Birds begin to breed at the age of two years. In rare cases, males become sexually mature, reaching one year. Sometimes a pair is created later, when both partners turn about 4 years old. Experts say that the age of maturity can vary depending on weather conditions and environmental factors.
Interesting bird
White-breasted geese is very interesting. She makes sounds very similar to a dog barking. If you hear them from the side, you will never say that the bird cries like that. Especially noisy at feeding. White-breasted goose is a sociable bird, so even with food its beak does not close.
These birds know how to fly and swim well. But during molting, they often cannot rise into the air due to problems with plumage. Therefore, nature rewarded them with strong, strong legs, which help them to escape from predators.
White-breasted geese are kept in zoos of different countries. Firstly, because this bird is very beautiful. Secondly, they breed well in captivity and are unpretentious in maintenance. There is such a bird in the zoo of Moscow. Come look at her. Aesthetic pleasure guaranteed.