Duckling and Goslings: the Season for Young Waterbirds

 In our region, May and June are a busy time of the year for young wildlife of all kinds. There are many clutches of young ducks (ducklings) and young geese (goslings) running around. Together we are going to explore the difference between goslings and ducklings, besides the obvious, how to know if they need our help and how you can safely feed waterbirds.

Goslings 

Gosling is a term that refers to young Canada Geese. Goslings are precocial babies, which simply means that soon after hatching they are able to walk around, swim and eat on their own. However, they do still need the guidance of their parents, to keep them warm, protect them from predation and teach them how to be a goose!

Goslings are raised by both parents, and Geese pairs can often be seen this time of year with a trail of goslings following behind them.

Eight goslings with a parent 

Geese can often be seen nesting it what we would consider "silly" areas such as parking lots. It is important to note that they choose these locations because they are wide open spaces where they can see predators approaching. During nesting, mom will sit on the eggs for 25-28 days. During this time the male goose will be seen foraging around the area, and fiercely defending his partner and their clutch! If you have ever been hissed at by a goose- they are just being good dads! Interestingly, first-time dads tend to be more fierce than seasoned fathers who are a little more laid back (maybe we aren't so different after all).

Goslings should always be in the vicinity of their parents. A gosling found alone can be assumed orphaned. If you find a gosling by itself or one that you believe to be injured please see this page on how to proceed.

Geese are great parents and will actually adopt young that are not their own. Goslings are incredibly sweet and a joy to watch with their family units!

Ducklings 

Duckling is the term used to refer to a young duck. Ducklings are also precocial babies and can eat, walk and swim directly after hatching. However, they do rely on parental support for warmth, protection, and guidance. Unlike geese, male ducks play no role in raising the young. You will see a female duck with a trail of ducklings behind her. Ducks tend to nest as close as possible to a water source. Occasionally they mistake people's pools for a viable water source- if you have ducks nesting in your yard and fear that they may go into your pool, see this page on what to do.

Ducklings should also always be in the vicinity of their mother. If a duckling is found completely alone, they need help. Again if you find one alone or believe it to be harmed see this page. Duck families, unlike geese, do not generally take on young that are not their own.

When they are young, goslings and ducklings can be difficult to tell apart as they can both appear as a combination of yellow and brown. In this photo of a duckling, you can see a brown stripe that extends past both sides of the eye, which is a tell-tale sign that you are looking at a duckling. Goslings often have this stripe but it only extends backward from the eye.

a young Duckling

One of the most common species of ducks you will see in our region is Mallards. The female is a drab brown but has a distinctive purple marking on its wings.

Both goslings and ducklings are very impressionable and it is important to keep a good distance when observing them. They are terribly cute but accommodate to humans pretty quickly!

If you wish to put out feed for ducks and geese it is best to offer something like cracked corn (very sparingly), seedless grapes cut up, cooked rice, peas, oats, and chopped lettuce. Foods such as bread are not nutritionally sound for them and can actually lead to injury such as crop impaction! Crops are the initial place for digestion in birds. Further, rotting bread can actually act as a pollutant in our waterways and lead to excess surface algae that can harm fish.

We are now offering duck and swan pellets in store as a healthy and safe way to feed waterfowl. Although we do not advocate feeding waterfowl- it provides a safe way to do so! To learn more about our Duck and Swan Pellets click here. 

If you take a stroll along a lakeshore or river, you are likely to see a goose or duck family this time of year! It is really quite something to watch. Enjoy all the marvel that this time of year has to offer - and the fluffy little goslings and ducklings learning their way in the world.

Warmly,

Heather