CONUNDRUM

Conundrum: according to Webster means: a riddle, a complicated problem.   It fits the story I am about to share with you. However, my conundrum is not a problem but a riddle within a puzzle that looks like a riddle.....are you confused yet? 

My story begins about a month ago, during the crisis at Mrs.Toad's wild life ride.  During the drama with the cats, we had something very interesting happen. Well, interesting to me, thus the story for you. 


We have Canadian geese, better known as Canada geese to non-natives of Washington state, that frequent our yard for food. In the winter, we feed them a mix of wild bird seed and chicken scratch. The word has spread and we feed upwards of 32 geese at a time now. Before it was 7 to 9. 
 

Now that our pond is full again, hallelujah!, the geese land in the water swim, fight, then walk up to the yard for food.  One day my husband mentioned to me that one pair of geese had a baby with them.......what?! In winter?! I don't think so. I began looking out for this pair and this baby goose. 


One early evening here they come walking up from the pond. I must tell you I was intrigued and then the conundrum began in my brain about these three geese. Yes, there were a pair, male and female and this other goose. Now this was NOT a baby goose....at least not to me. Not in January!?

I've watched these three swim, eat and fly off for the night. Each time I kept thinking about this goose. It reminded me of something. Something from my past....what was it?.....

Bingo! I was watching these three one day and it hit me: Baby Huey!!! Yes, this goose reminds me of the cartoon character, Baby Huey.  Now for those of you that have no idea what I am talking about, here is a picture. 

This is a picture I found of Baby Huey

  This is the goose that is causing my conundrum.   

 

This goose is not a Canadian, Canada, goose!  It sure is not the baby of these two geese....

   My husband still thinks this is their baby!? Reaally honey?!  This is the most interesting goose that has dropped in for eats at our place. The conundrum is: What are you??? You are one LARGE bird. 

I let my imagine go roaming for a back story for this bird, mostly to stopped the tumbling questions in my mind that I know I cannot answer; like where did you come from, who are your parents, how did you get here?

Here is my back story for this bird. 

A couple of years ago one of my neighbors told me what to do with my ducks when I got tired of caring for them.... she said, "drop them off at the little pond at the park in town"....that is what she has done and others like her.... Domestic ducks and geese cannot fly! Easy prey for killing....now you probably have a good sense about my feelings on this idea or solution.....If not, I am about to share it: NO WAY EVER!!!!  How do you think we ended up with 8 dogs, 14 cats, 7 ducks and 2 chickens???  From people like her,...... who got tired of being responsible for the animals they took home for pets!  Okay, now I will continue my story. 

I think, given where I live, this goose was orphaned by its mother. The mother was not a wild goose, but a domestic goose that someone dropped off, maybe with a mate. Only one of her eggs survived and Baby Huey was it.  The parents being domestic geese did not survive long. Before their death, they befriended this couple that Baby Huey hangs out with now. These two geese adopted it, cared for it, kept it safe, taught it to swim, what to eat and how to fly, as you may or may not know, domestic birds cannot fly.  Now Baby Huey did not remember his/her parents, but this kind couple, so he/she thinks it is a Canadian goose. That is the back story from my imagination.

The three of them come every day now in the early evening. They swim in the pond, then make their way up to the front yard and eat the bird seed we provide. They look out for and protect each other.  Once in a while they get here before I get the food out. When that happens, I am out there spreading seed and the male warns me off. Of course, I remind him not to bite the hand that is feeding it. So far he hasn't. They stay together. 

Well, being the inquiring mind that I am. I did some research on this goose, hoping to get some answers as to what it is.  This is what I found out: this goose is called a Toulouse goose. This name is used for several type of gray geese descending from the European Greylag.  They are good for showing and for foie gras, french for "fat liver."  Now there are 3 type of Toulouse: Production, Standard Dewlap and Exhibition.  The main thing to understand about this breed is they are BIG. I mean they can weigh up to 26 pounds!  Anywhere from 18-26 lbs in weight. They are not small in stature either. 

Here are some pictures of this Toulouse on land and in the water. I first thought it was part Canadian goose and Swan, but I was wrong. I must warn you I have many pictures and video to share. 

I've named it Baby Huey...fits I think.

This is the male that comes with Baby Huey. He seems small in comparison.

 Look at the size of Baby Huey's neck! 

 The male Canadian goose is big, but Baby Huey is bigger!

See how high up Baby Huey's rear is compared to the couple close by.

Walking away from me, honking. Leave us alone!

You can tell it kind of stands out in this crowd. See the how the rear sits higher in the water..

A side note here: The female up picture, closet to the bank, from the Toulouse is a mix breed of Canadian goose/Greylag. The goose in the front of the picture to the left is also a mixed breed of Canadian goose/Greylag. We have a few more with more stand out features, but they were not here at this photo shoot. The two males are just plain old Canadian geese. 

As with human society so it is with the geese, some just cannot get along with others. Canadian goose on the far left chasing the three. The male in the water is turning to defend.

Here is a video of them eating and not trusting me....

 

 Doesn't this bird look swan like???  This is the threesome that sticks together.

 Compared to the others, Baby Huey looks part swan to me. See the goose in the front of this picture? She is part Grayleg. You can tell by the white around her beak and her coloring is just a little different from the Canadian goose. 

They are finished swimming and are now heading for the yard. 

Follow the leader......

Bringing up the rear of this group.

Crossing the driveway to food..  That is NO baby. 

Dinner at last.  See the goose in the back of the pack? It is a mix of Greylag too.

They have had enough of me video taping them.

Well, now you see my conundrum.  I look forward to spring. I will be curious to see if Baby Huey mates and what the babies will look like (not sure a female Canadian goose would survive the mating process with Baby Huey).  I will keep you apprised of the situation.  

I must warn you; I do not get the same geese every year. The first group that showed up 3 years ago no longer come here. The group from two years ago are not here and last years group has a few returnees. If this group does not migrate north, or get killed, we may see them after the babies are old enough to come along. I can only hope to see this group in the late spring and summer. 

Now you know a lot about geese! whether you wanted to or not!