Cape Barren Goose
Cape Barron Goose
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COMMON NAME: |
Cape Barren Goose |
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LATIN NAME: |
Cereopsis novaehollandiae |
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FOOD: |
Grasses and native plants |
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HABITAT: |
Grass-lands, improved pasture and swampy areas. |
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LOCALITY: |
Coastal southern Australia, Tasmania and the Bass Strait Islands. |
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BEHAVIOUR: |
These birds will hiss if threatened or attacking a predator. They are rarely found in the water. Flocks with up to 300 birds may gather however foraging is usually done in smaller groups. Sealers and settlers had hunted this species almost to extinction by the turn of the twentieth century. Protection by wildlife agencies has increased numbers now to around 17000, which may approximate their population before European settlement. |
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DEVELOPMENT: |
Lifelong pairs, the male generally begins building their nest in May out of grass, plants or available materials on or near the ground in tussock grasses or among rocks or low bushes. He maintains guard while the female lines the nest and maintains it, laying four or five creamy white eggs. Incubation takes 34-37 days and the goslings hatch covered with black, white and grey patterned down. Both parents guard their offspring fiercely, and will attack any animal that approaches the nest. Both parents care for the chicks until the fledge at 10 or 11 weeks of age. The female can loose up to 1/5 of her body weight while incubating her eggs. |
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DESCRIPTION: |
The Cape Barren goose is a plump, stumpy-billed bird 75-100 cm in length. It has grey plumage with rows of black spots on the wings, a small beak almost completely covered by a pale greenish-yellow waxy layer, pink legs, and black feet. Cape Barren geese rarely swim, and spend most of their time grazing among the tussock grasses of their island homes except when they fly to the mainland coasts in the non-breeding season. |
