The white-fronted goose is one of the favorite birds of hunters. Goose hunting (the second, older name) is officially allowed due to the high population, which will not decrease from a couple of dozen dead birds of this species. Excellent taste of meat, ease of preparation make the poultry worthy of the main dish on the table during family holidays.
White-fronted goose
Description of appearance
The white-fronted goose resembles a gray goose in appearance, but it is slightly smaller in size. When a white-fronted chick is born, it is difficult to distinguish it from a gray congener. Only by 4 years of age can you see the features that distinguish this breed from others.
The description of the variety is as follows:
- the abdominal surface is white with transverse black spots;
- the beak in adults is pink;
- the frontal part of the head is white (hence the name of this type of goose).
Mostly brown color predominates, which in some places is mixed with white feathers. Chicks up to a year have yellow paws with an orange tint. Adults are rich orange, closer to red. In the photo of the White-fronted goose from various Internet sources, you can clearly see the features and differences from birds of other species.
A male white-fronted goose in adulthood weighs 2 to 3.5 kg. Females weigh from 2 to 3 kg. You can distinguish them from far away from gray geese by flight. For beginners, of course, it will be difficult to do this, but an experienced hunter will notice that the White-breasted Geese fly much smoother. Their movements are more graceful. An experienced hunter recognizes the voice of this bird by a higher tone compared to gray geese.
Location and lifestyle
The place of refuge for these birds is the tundra. In the tundra, the white-fronted goose feels safe; there, thanks to the characteristics of the climate, humidity, flora, they nest in this area. European White-fronted geese winter near the Mediterranean, Caspian and Black Seas. Flocks of White-fronted geese fly in the same stream with the gray ones, but a little later, around the middle of spring. During the flight, it is important that there is water in the form of lakes and rivers, as well as meadows, islands, where there is at least a small vegetation for feeding.
The White-fronted goose can spend the night not only on land, but also on water. This is quite rare, only when it is far from the coast. When the snow begins to melt in the tundra, the White-fronted goose comes to nest. This usually occurs in late spring - early summer. When the spring drags on, the winged flock lives on the shallows and grassy islands, where they wait for the weather suitable for incubating chicks.
From about 2 years of age, pairs are formed in the flock that stick to each other during flights. Then some of them nest, and some arrive in the tundra much later, not wanting to build a nest for now.
Nesting
The habitat of geese most of the time is in the tundra. Almost any place in these parts is suitable for hatching chicks. The main conditions are the presence of a freshwater lake or river, an average amount of grassiness. The nest can be located in an open area on low bushes. Eggs are on the flooring made from a mixture of down, dry and fresh grass. The flooring serves not only to preserve the eggs from injuries, if they lay on a hard flooring. The female Bald Goose also uses down as protection against possible external enemies. She covers eggs with fluff from the floor before flying off to get food.
The number of eggs in one nest varies from 1 to 7 pieces. The color is white, sometimes with a creamy tint. The size of an average egg is about 5 x 8 cm. While the female incubates the eggs, the male guards nearby. When an arctic fox attacks, the pair stands in front of the nest and tries to scare away the predator with wings spread wide. Unfortunately, there are cases of death of geese.
If a person appears on the horizon, then the couple wait for his approach to about a distance of 30 m and simultaneously take off. Birds cannot fly far from the nest, so they circle from above until the person leaves this place. Almost a month is the time to incubate eggs. The hatching process of a baby lasts about 48 hours.
Food and wintering
Geese of the White-headed breed are herbivores. Their diet consists of algae, herbs, rhizomes, horsetails, etc. In winter, birds prefer berries. In July, young geese molt. They fly to the tundra, a safe place provided with grass and water. Usually this is the coast of the Arctic, where there is a shallow lake and more or less grassy places. Adult bachelors also fly molt along with young ones, but it occurs in older White-headed geese later.
White-fronted goose Note to hunters
GOES — WHITE: Hunting in spring in the Tver region.
WHITE GOose. PHOTO HUNTING ON THE COAST OF THE BARENTS SEA
In autumn, White-fronted Geese gather in packs. About 2 months they are preparing for long-distance flights, training in short flights over the tundra. Training is needed. so that new young chicks, who have never flown before, get used to flying. At the end of November, the White-fronted Geese are ready for a difficult journey. Adhering to rivers and lakes, flocks fly toward the west, southwest, south.
The white-fronted goose usually stays for the winter in Western Europe (Great Britain, the Netherlands). The lifespan of an individual is a little over 15 years in freedom, in captivity the age can reach 25 years. These birds are not careful, therefore, they often become victims of hunters. However, this does not affect the population, giving freedom of action to lovers of these geese.