Geese Behaving Oddly
It looks like the geese were preparing to take flight, but they weren't.
There were about 20 Canada Goose in fairly deep water at an inlet/outlet between Lake St. Clair and the marsh of the metropark. I watched as, one by one, they lifted from the water slightly by flapping their wings, then with an enormous splash, disappeared under the water. When they emerged, they "ran" as shown in the picture and settled back onto the water, never taking flight.
Geese often bottom feed in shallow water by dipping their heads under the water, but I have never seen geese "diving" in deeper water in this manner. Nor have I seen them bathing in deep, icy waters by diving.
Has anyone else seen this behavior by Canada Geese?
Geese Behaving Oddly
It looks like the geese were preparing to take flight, but they weren't.
There were about 20 Canada Goose in fairly deep water at an inlet/outlet between Lake St. Clair and the marsh of the metropark. I watched as, one by one, they lifted from the water slightly by flapping their wings, then with an enormous splash, disappeared under the water. When they emerged, they "ran" as shown in the picture and settled back onto the water, never taking flight.
Geese often bottom feed in shallow water by dipping their heads under the water, but I have never seen geese "diving" in deeper water in this manner. Nor have I seen them bathing in deep, icy waters by diving.
Has anyone else seen this behavior by Canada Geese?