Try to guess the name of the bird from its description. It has a large body, 60-70 centimeters long and weighing 1-2.5 kg. The plumage below is white. The mask is white, but with black bridles on the cheeks. The upper plumage is black, as are the legs and beak. Who is it? Of course, barnacle goose. This representative of birds will be discussed in our article.
Habitat
The barnacle goose is quite rare. Its main habitats are sea coasts, wet tundra. Prefers rocky northern cliffs, steep slopes, shores of mountain lakes and streams. East Greenland and Svalbard are great for her. He also likes the mountain landscape to alternate with valleys covered with green, lush grass. In our country, she lives on the islands of Vaygach and Novaya Zemlya. For nesting, it chooses cliffs, rocks, coastal islands. Places that predators can't reach to ravage her nest.
Hard journey
With the onset of cold weather, the goose fly to the Netherlands, tonorthwest Germany, sometimes to Belgium and northwest France. In the winter season, in search of food, they can go to settlements. In the spring, the barnacle goose, the photo of which is presented in this article, returns to the north.
Scientists have found out that they always fly along a certain route. Initially heading west, the barnacle goose gradually changes its route. It flies over the northwestern regions of Germany, then over the Jutland peninsula. After that, it rushes to the southern islands of Denmark and the southern coast of Sweden.
Of course, birds cannot fly such a long way without stopping. Therefore, they rest first on the island of Gotland, then in Western Estonia. Having rested for the third time on the Kanin Peninsula, the barnacle goose finally makes its last flight and ends up on Vaygach Island or Novaya Zemlya.
Lifestyle
The described birds prefer to live in flocks. They feed on plants and crops. Barnacle goose are not active at night. Under natural habitat conditions, they can live up to 25 years. But this is because it can be difficult for them to get food, to protect themselves from predators. In captivity, where this bird lives in comfortable conditions with abundant food and no danger, it can live up to 30 years.
Hunting barnacle goose is prohibited. This bird does not breed very actively, because it lives in small spaces and will not be able to feed more numerous offspring. If hunting for this bird is allowed, then this species can quickly disappear from our planet. Therefore, the barnacle goose is under protection. The Red Book, which contains information about her, confirms this.
Recently, it is believed that the population of these birds began to grow. Therefore, some hunters began to hunt this bird and even make a decoy for the barnacle goose. Do not rush to conclusions. The population could be drastically reduced as a result of such activities, which are also prohibited.
The myth of reproduction
This bird builds its nests in such secret places that for a long time people could not see how its chicks are born. This contributed to the fact that in the Middle Ages, its meat was allowed to be consumed in fasting, as it was believed that goose chicks were born miraculously, not characteristic of animals.
It's funny, but only a few centuries ago, people thought that these representatives of birds were born in sea water, according to one version, from spruce wood that had fallen there, according to another, from special shells. The barnacle goose was even called the sea duck. But still, taking into account her lifestyle, reminiscent of a duck, poultry meat was forbidden to eat in fasting.
Really
Baby goose chicks are born from eggs that these birds lay in nests of 3-5 pieces. Goose nest in colonies of up to 75 pairs. But they do not cluster, but keep the distance between nests up to 10 meters. For their nest, they choose natural recesses that are lined with moss, algae,lichen, its fluff. In addition, they make a roller around it from the same material.
The female is engaged in incubation, but the male also takes part in the fate of future offspring. He does not leave the nest, but protects it from outside encroachment.
Nesting usually starts in May and ends in September. The chicks that are born are covered with down. They do not stay in the nest, but, having dried out, leave it and go down the rocks down to their parents, who take them to the feeding grounds. Most often in fresh water. Chicks can fly already in 40-45 days.
Birds begin to breed at the age of two years. In rare cases, males become sexually mature after reaching one year. Sometimes a couple is created later, when both partners are about 4 years old. Experts clarify that the age of sexual maturity may vary depending on weather conditions and environmental factors.
Interesting bird
The barnacle goose cackles very interestingly. She makes sounds very similar to dog barking. If you hear them from the side, you will never say that this is how a bird screams. It is especially noisy at feeding stations. The barnacle goose is a sociable bird, so even when eating, its beak does not close.
These birds can fly and swim well. But during molting, they often cannot take to the air due to plumage problems. Therefore, nature has rewarded them with strong, strong legs that help them escape from predators.
Barn-cheeked goose kept in zoosdifferent countries. First, because this bird is very beautiful. Secondly, they breed well in captivity and are unpretentious in keeping. There is such a bird in the Moscow Zoo. Come see her. Aesthetic pleasure guaranteed.
