Geese

A flurry a feathers froth-up the lake, continually turning calm waters and quiet days into boisterous events that seem to capture the raw energy of the animal kingdom coming alive and then sleeping once more. You sit on the shore and watch the hundreds of families go about their day. Father flex their muscles, mothers mark out territory and turn heads as they waddle around, and you stare, not able to recognize even one of the social complexities of this community. Geese are waterfowl belonging to the tribe Anserini of the family Anatidae. A number of other birds, mostly related to the shelducks, have "goose" as part of their name. More distantly related members of the Anatidae family are swans, most of which are larger than true geese, and ducks, which are smaller. The term goose applies to the female in particular while gander applies to the male. The collective noun for group of geese on the ground is a gaggle; when in flight, they are called a skein, a team or a wedge; when flying close together, they are called a plump. There are three living genera of true geese: Anser, grey geese, including the domesticated goose and the Swan Goose; Chen, white geese (often included in Anser); and Branta, black geese, such as the Canada goose. Geese are monogamous, living in permanent pairs throughout the year; however, unlike most other permanently monogamous animals, they are territorial only during the short nesting season. Paired geese are more dominant and feed more, two factors that result in more young.