In the UK, we are lucky enough to host 9 species of geese that flock here to spend the winter in relative warmth.
From the Egyptian Goose to the Taiga Bean Goose, these birds are large, colourful, and characterful!
Are geese aggressive?
Geese have got a pretty bad reputation of being aggressive towards humans.
Many geese species are bulky and heavy and they’ve got strong flight muscles that are powerful enough to break a nose or finger. Their beaks are lined with tomia which are small conical projections made of cartilage. Geese will bite firmly and are capable of leaving bruises and scratches, but they can’t cause lasting or debilitating injuries.
Most geese fear humans and will avoid us because it is their natural instinct. Therefore, it is extremely rare for a goose to attack a human.
Migration
Geese travel thousands of kilometres to and from our shores each year in their annual migration. Light-Bellied Brent Geese travel the furthest, flying almost 3,000 miles to winter here on our shores.
They often fly in V formation. This helps them to conserve energy by taking advantage of the windbreak provided by the lead bird. They each take it in turns at the head of the V and drop back when they’re tired.
Due to the planet getting warming, some species of goose are abandoning their traditional migration patterns. This can be detrimental to geese and cause huge numbers of them to be lost.
Are geese affected by climate change?
Warmer temperatures in breeding grounds mean that mother geese lay more eggs and spend more time in their nests. This leaves them helpless to predators.
Protect our geese by protecting our planet!
