almost all goslings are soon killed

that's unusual, part of the Canada's success is the creche that they form for the young to be "looked after" by patrolling adults.

To quote from Mark Cocker's excellent Birds Britannica

'They (Canada Geese) are also prodigious grazers of grass and, at times arable crops, with three geese estimated to be the equal of one sheep.'

'Their digestive system also seems to process the vegetation at an alarming rate, with the squidgy green cigar-shaped droppings apparently appearing every four minutes (about 28 ounces/800gm per day.'

'Not only do they foul the water, the lakeside and the surrounding lawns, but droppings 'collected in parks, to which the public had access, were screened for a range of bacteria, including some that are well-known causes of illness in man.'

Egg pricking was introduced at Chorlton WP in 2001 under licence from DEFRA, in an attempt to control and stabilise the population. A licence was no longer neccessary from 2005. Eggs have not been pricked since 2007. However almost all goslings are soon killed by either resident Mute Swans, Carrion Crows and Magpies. In recent years clutches have suffered predation from Mink.

-- Edited by Pete Hines on Thursday 19th of August 2010 05:43:50 PM

Judith Smith wrote:

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Unlike Ruddies (see my other posting) this is a species, like Mink, Grey Squirrel and numerous other imports) which does do damage to our native wildlife, by trampling and crowding out available breeding areas, not to mention health hazards from droppings in parks. But it is one that council rangers (and in Wigan the LWT at the Wigan Flashes) could tackle relatively easily. I was stopped by an elderly cyclist today who complained that he had been nearly knocked from his bike on the towpath at Scotman's Flash by the gaggle of CGs and their offspring - a gander hit him quite painfully on his leg!

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I have also heard that they can eat four/five times as much grass as sheep .. hence another reason for farmers to dislike them.

Ian,

"Don't shoot the messenger"

Ian Campbell wrote:

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Mike Crawley wrote:

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the value (to the landowner, etc.) of dipping Canada Goose eggs is that there's no distasteful fall-out because the aim isn't to cull but to reduce breeding success.

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Does not the process kill(sorry cull), the poor, living, little, cute, lovable, sweet, geeselets(is this a word?), am I going over the top here,inside the charming, harmless, eggies
Cheers Ian

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More likely stops the goose equivalent of what you boiled/fried for breakfast from turning into that fluffy gosling

Mike Crawley wrote:

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the value (to the landowner, etc.) of dipping Canada Goose eggs is that there's no distasteful fall-out because the aim isn't to cull but to reduce breeding success.

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Does not the process kill(sorry cull), the poor, living, little, cute, lovable, sweet, geeselets(is this a word?), am I going over the top here,inside the charming, harmless, eggies
Cheers Ian

the value (to the landowner, etc.) of dipping Canada Goose eggs is that there's no distasteful fall-out because the aim isn't to cull but to reduce breeding success.

Any 'cull' at a single site of such a common and mobile species seems, simply, futile.

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Monday 9th of August 2010 11:04:03 PM

I feel I may be the only person with this view, so here goes, whats wrong with Canada Geese?, they occupy an unused niche very successfully and what harm do they actually cause to other wildlife. Ruddy Ducks however pose an actual threat to a European species, why does it seem OK to kill(sorry cull) one species which has no threat but not another that potentially does?.
Cheers Ian

Dipping the eggs in liquid paraffin is the easiest way of CG control. You need to be careful not to let the female back onto the eggs too soon or the paraffin will rub off onto her feathers and the eggs will hatch. Also, timing (around the 3rd week in April) is important - too soon, and they will re-lay. It's done regularly at some sites in this area and the benefits are beginning to be felt - this goose can live 20+ years and has few predators in this country.

Unlike Ruddies (see my other posting) this is a species, like Mink, Grey Squirrel and numerous other imports) which does do damage to our native wildlife, by trampling and crowding out available breeding areas, not to mention health hazards from droppings in parks. But it is one that council rangers (and in Wigan the LWT at the Wigan Flashes) could tackle relatively easily. I was stopped by an elderly cyclist today who complained that he had been nearly knocked from his bike on the towpath at Scotman's Flash by the gaggle of CGs and their offspring - a gander hit him quite painfully on his leg!

Very interesting Mike, I didn't know that.
I know that a few years ago a number of birds ventured onto neighbouring farmland at Reddish and they were shot.

Anthony

Anthony, in general what tends to happen is that "they" dip goose eggs in a light mineral oil (like liquid petroleum, i.e. the main component in "Baby Oil") the oil blocks the pores in the egg shell which asphyxiates the embryo. IIRC this also prevents re-nesting.
Not suggesting that this is the plan at The Vale, just general information.

Not quite sure what to make of this, but here is a notice from the notice board at Reddish Vale... See Here Just seems a little bit random and the wording while not saying there is going to be some sort of a cull, suggests that they may be trying to justify a future one. Another thing is the Geese at Reddish are probably the least aggressive I've ever encountered, even when with young they are very approachable...Unlike the Canada's at Etherow and a lot of other locations. Anthony