If one were to Google the word “gosling” they would discover a slew of images and the correct pronunciation and origin of that word – wow, a whopping 43,600,000 results in 0.47 seconds, plus Canadian actor Ryan Gosling’s smiling face!
I’ll save you the trouble of those few mouse clicks, or typing the word “gosling” into a search engine, as this writer will define a gosling as “a puff of feathered sweetness that takes away the harshness of today’s world.”
The backstory ….
It was Mother’s Day weekend, on Saturday, May 7th to be exact, when I rounded the bend near the twisted tree at Council Point Park and came upon three families of geese. The parents were parading their offspring as they made their official Park debut. I was happy to see them, but wondered “where had they been hiding since they hatched?” The goslings gobbled up lush grass in their tiny beaks and paid no attention to me, but the parents’ radar sure went up.
After oohing and aahing a little, I quickly hooked my goodie bag in the crook of my elbow; I couldn’t get the camera out of its pouch quickly enough to capture these cutie pies for you to similarly delight in.
Canada Geese goslings typically hatch in early May in all our local parks. Elizabeth Park has hundreds of Canada Geese, so it’s a sure bet you can find some if you’re in need of a gosling fix.
Here at Council Point Park, where I’ve been walking since 2013, despite climate change rearing its ugly head and slamming our formerly four seasons into unrecognizable categories, some of Mother Nature’s happenings remain status quo, just as I’ve witnessed each year this past decade. It is more than just the budding trees, or the eventual foliage hues come Fall. There is the return of the Red-winged Blackbird in March, the awakening of turtles from deep slumber beneath the Creek bed, the arrival of goslings in early May and the departure of all the geese and their offspring in late June. The latter event happens once the adult geese lose their flight feathers and cannot evade ground predators, so it is necessary for each goose to take to the water and shelter in groups until their new flight feathers return. I’ve already seen large feathers along the path. After the geese depart, there will be clean and poop-less paths and no wing-flapping and hissing histrionics – I’ll still miss them.
I’ve never seen a goose nest at this venue, though I scour the shorelines each Spring looking for them. They must be well hidden because one day the other walkers and I show up to see fuzzy, lemon-yellow darlings scurrying around. We walkers are like the paparazzi when the goslings arrive.
Week #1 – The nursery set.
These glimpses of goslings on Mother’s Day weekend were the sweetest of all the photos taken of them this past month. It was difficult to winnow down those shots. At first I just thought I’d just sprinkle a few gosling photos in my “Spring Vibes at Council Point Park” post, but, when I was without a car, then severe weather forced me to stick close to home, I was able to document the goslings’ growth on a regular basis over a month’s time. Although this is a small park, I don’t see the families every day and sometimes bad weather cancels out my morning walk.
It was early morning, with no other walkers around and the goslings were emitting tiny tweets and peeps between mouthfuls of grass – it was the epitome of a peaceful morning for me.
Here are some shots – can you tell the different ages, likely only a few days apart? I’ll identify them for you.
Week #2 – Kindergarteners.
Though I often saw the geese families on weekdays, I waited one entire week later to document the goslings’ growth. On Saturday, May 14th, it was a day at the beach for the families. In comparing offspring between the three families, I could tell how much those youngsters had grown. Their downy yellow plumage was sleeker and tinged with gray blotches. They were not toddling after their parents, as much, plus strutting around seeking the lushest grass and picking out some of the plentiful dandelions to dine on. I’m glad I arrived early that morning because just as I left the trail, the crew of grass cutters were starting up their mowers. The next day the grass was short, dandelions sheared from the landscape and the three families were nowhere to be found.
Week #3 – Pre-teens.
By Week #3, this time on a Sunday, a mere eight days later, I captured images of gray-colored goslings, with canoe-shaped bodies, stubby wings, massive feet and a whole lotta hissing coming from those black beaks. Although they still clustered with their parents and siblings, occasionally a brave soul would sprint from the others to snag a wildflower, or for a drink of water at the Creek’s edge, independent of the crowd.
Week #4 – Teenagers.
With the impending Memorial Day holiday (and finally able to schedule some bigger parks in my weekend agenda), I set out mid-week to document the goslings. They grew so much these past few weeks, from yellow fuzzballs to gray, almost-prehistoric looking birds with massive feet. They are eating and pooping machines. Unbelievably, adult geese eat up to four pounds (almost two kilograms) of grass a day – the goslings do their fair share of eating as well.
My favorite photo from this day were these goslings hissing. I don’t think their anger was directed at me, as I stood a respectable distance away. What a couple of rebels!
Week #5 – Looking like grown-ups!
I capped off the goslings’ growth chart around Week #5 when they became all gray and a little blah looking. Their markings grow more defined daily, with darker beaks, whiter cheeks and the tail feathers are now resembling their final plumage.
A few factoids about our feathered friends. The growth of these goslings is pretty amazing. They are incubated by Mom for about 30 days. They hatch and are immediately able to find their own food source and take to the water, where they will form a neat queue behind either of their parents. In four weeks, the goslings will have grown to one-third of their full size and at eight weeks, their plumage is indistinguishable to that of their parents, becoming “mini-me” versions. At a glance you cannot tell them apart. Then the best part: after just ten weeks from a cute fluffball, they will take flight as a full-grown Canada goose. Upon fledging, their new moniker becomes “young goose” as they leave those gosling days behind them, however, they don’t reach full maturity for another two years.
Thanks for hanging in here through the chatter and all the photos, (some, which I’m sure look alike to everyone but me). Your reward is this lovely quote:
“Our task must be to free ourselves … by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.” – Albert Einstein
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
What a wonderful post. I like these birds, but as they grow they certainly get ackward looking in their juvenilr stage. Your pictures are stunning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Peggy! It is amazing to watch how quickly they grow and the various stages – from fuzzball to an almost prehistoric-looking bird (one with a lot of attitude).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep – they do hit a stage where they look prehistoric. Ha
LikeLiked by 1 person
To go from fuzzy little darling goslings to clumsy-looking small geese in record time is really something!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How wonderful to be able to watch these little families! Can you imagine if human babies matured so quickly? Foraging in the fridge within hours of their birth and at 10 weeks, they’re off to University. Thanks for the cuteness this morning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha – yes, it would be pretty scary Zazzy! It amazes me every year how quickly they grow up and this year documenting their growth was fun. I never know how many days old they are when they first debut, nor where they’ve been hidden. I think they’re gone until later this Summer now as I’ve not seen a single goose since last Wednesday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful goose family ! Great shot thanks for sharing 😊👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed seeing them Priti.
LikeLike
☺️☺️💐
LikeLike
Love that picture of the teenagers hissing, getting in some practice for their life skills. 🙂 It was so interesting seeing how fast they grow, how much they change in just a couple of weeks. The first picture of the gosling sitting in the grass is beautiful, definitely a ‘puff of feathered sweetness.’ Thank you for sharing these and for all the interesting gosling and goose facts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those teenagers really made me laugh Barbara. They were all puffed up with importance and really I wasn’t that close to them, so hissing just for the sake of hissing. 🙂 It is amazing how fast they grow when you compare photos week to week. That sweet gosling in the top picture was eating dandelions and just plopped down by itself, like it was worn out from eating. So I lucked out there. Glad you liked the facts about them – I found them interesting too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is very interesting and is beautifully illustrated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you liked it Anne – do you get a chance to see goslings from your various types of geese when you are outside?
LikeLike
Mainly those of Egyptian Geese.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure they are just as cute as the Canada Geese goslings. Who can resist seeing these youngsters?
LikeLike
Lovely pictures. I love baby critters!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Kate! I love baby critters too – they grow up too quickly though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They do!
LikeLiked by 1 person
great pictures and documenting of these Geese Linda! They must be getting used to you hanging around.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Wayne! Glad you liked them. It is pretty amazing how quickly they grow when you look at the photos week to week. I think they’ve gone to the Detroit River now as I’ve not seen them since last Wednesday.
LikeLike
Ya,they grow like weeds in the first weeks! All young do actually!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just amazing Wayne. A fellow blogger commented that what if human babies grew that quickly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
oooh so adorable!! I’ve never seen goslings in the wild, only on pictures. And sadly, due to the family visit my partner and I missed visiting out local walking spot and missed the birth of the cygnets to a nesting pair of swans.
What a lovely treat that must have been for you seeing these pretty geese. I had to laugh at the Teenager photos, they look so cute and silly. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
They go so quickly from fluffballs to prehistoric-looking adults Ari and it is just amazing to me each year to watch the transformation. This year I thought I’d document it. That pair of rebels hissing at me made my day. I have been trying to get photos of swans with their cygnets for years. I finally saw some this year, though it was across the marsh. They sure were cute!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve only ever seen cygnets when they are a lot older, never when they are new and still really young. Oh well, one day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ari, I’d love to see them riding on their mother’s back, nestled in her feathers like they do when they are very young. Like you, maybe one day we’ll fulfill that bucket list wildlife item.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So cute!! Here sometimes they cross the street with their parents and traffic stops in both directions!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are fuzzy and sweet aren’t they Pam? At Elizabeth Park you can only drive around the island one way and the last time I was there several families were crossing at the same time. But some would go halfway and turn back – conflicted I guess. 🙂 I took some pictures of them for a future post. They waddle along and take their sweet time when they eventually cross.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They do look so cute, but I wouldn’t get too close because the mama might cook your goose!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha Pam – you have a point about that! The gander, guards the goslings with a look that tells you it is a good idea for YOU to detour onto the grass and let THEM have the path to themselves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha Goose stepping indeed! Good one Linda! I love the goslings, I know Canada Geese get a bad rap but I do like watching the goslings grow up and they do it so fast!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I laughed when I saw that goose walking like that Susan. Between that and the goslings hissing when they saw me, they provide lots of antics to laugh at. I always marveled how quickly the goslings grow up, but comparing photos week-to-week, you can really see it. I’ve not seen them since last Wednesday so I think they have gone to the River to await their new feathers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your documentation of the goslings growing up (so fast!!!) is awesome, Linda. Those teenage goslings hissing is the photo I love!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was fun documenting them Laurie. Through the years, I’ve seen them over the course of a month, but never took photos on a regular basis to show their growth. I felt like I needed a yardstick to measure how tall they grew! Those teenage goslings made me smile too – so ferocious!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, they really grow quickly. I like your definition…..and your favorite hissing photo. I will never think of Ryan Gosling again without thinking of goslings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Joni – I think my definition suits that cutie pie up top to a T. That was one of the youngest ones on Mother’s Day weekend. Those goslings are funny when they mimic what their parents do – right down to the wing flapping, though there were no wings to flip yet. I have never seen Ryan Gosling in a movie, but I’ve heard his name. I did not know his name was spelled that way and would have assumed it would be spelled with two “s” letters. So that surprised me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never seen him in anything either, but he’s Canadian. I get him mixed up with Ryan Reynolds.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had heard of him Joni, but read his bio when I Googled “goslings” to see how many “hits” came up. I’ve heard of Ryan Reynolds, but wouldn’t recognize him either.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this post all in one. The collection and description of ages is so much fun to learn. It proves your due diligence in story telling, Linda! Wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for saying that TD! Watching them, then photographing them while on my walk was a great pastime for the month of May and I was sorry to see them grow up so quickly! Now they have left the Park and gone to the Detroit River with their parents and when they return in a few months, I’ll not be able to distinguish the young geese from their parents.
LikeLike
Aside from “hissing histrionics” and “gosling goodness” it is amazing to see how quickly they grow into adults. How fun for you to see all this play out! High hopes for them on their subsequent journeys when it’s time to leave! Fun post, Linda, lots of smiles 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you liked this post Terri. It was fun watching them grow up before my very eyes, especially when they mimic their parents with the hissing and wing flapping if someone dares to not detour around them on the walking path. 🙂 They’ve got spunk, those young critters!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hissed at by teenage goslings! You live a tough life. I like your post and how you’ve shown the progression from gosling to goose. Well done
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I felt like I had to defend myself along the path with those rebel hissers! I’m thankful I am a tough Michigander. 🙂 Glad you liked the post Ally. It was fun documenting their growth with my camera to give everyone a smile.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great photos Linda! I love how you did weekly photo shoots so we could watch them grow. Chickens go through that gangly stage between being a cute fluff ball and a beautiful adult as well.
P.S. I know you are behind in reader. If you haven’t heard from Anne this week you should go over and read her post from today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Ruth! I had fun watching them grow and documenting it with pictures. What happened to those fluff ball? I never thought about the chicks to chickens … yes, they would have that awkward and gangly stage as well.
(Thanks for the head’s up Ruth. I was behind in Reader and went over to catch up on a few days over at Reader before I came over here – my next post was Anne’s and I just read it after you sent me this message. How terrible – such a loving couple and 58 years of marriage. Family members must be devastated. Thank you again Ruth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Linda. I was sure you would want to know right away. My heart goes out to them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I’m always so behind in Reader these days … it’s rare when I catch up. The suddenness of death sometimes makes it all the harder to bear. My heart goes out to them as well Ruth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The “no flying for you yet” photo is a heart tug! Oh my goodness
And these goslings and this post is teeming with life and amazing energy
Really beautiful post Linda
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Yvette – glad you liked this post. I had fun assembling it – so many photos and asking myself “do the families really look all that different?” A few days makes a big difference in the life of a gosling. I see those goslings hissing and flapping their stubby wings – the apple doesn’t fall from the tree as the expression goes. I’m sorry they are gone now. I saw them last Wednesday but not since.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I bet it is a little sad to see them go- a certain emptiness
The bond from watching them develop is a unique one!
—
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it is – especially this year as I was watching them more intently than usual!
LikeLiked by 1 person
☀️💛💛💛
LikeLiked by 1 person
YAY – I’m so happy to see you were able to capture all their stages! This is such a fun post. The teenager stage is so awkward. I love how you caught them with a look of defiance and talking back. It’s good to stay away from them, the parents can be nasty when they feel threatened. I bet it was fun for you to go through the photos to pick what to share!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you liked this post Shelley – they were fun to watch growing up, very quickly. The teenager geese really had quite an attitude … they must study their parents to get those moves just right! I had a few more photos but thought there were likely too many to begin with, so unfortunately had to weed them out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it was a fun post! They do grow fast and you captured the stages so well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Shelley – you make my head swell. 🙂 I had a good ” bird” day today as I saw three Sandhill Cranes (first time) and first time to see a Baltimore Oriole. Plus an Osprey, but no picture as I was driving. I was gone for hours and hours and got back later than usual. Same for yesterday morning – had to go while the weather was cool. Didn’t last too long last night — all the fresh air. Wish it could stay cool.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome.
YAY – that sounds like so much fun. That’s a lot of bird activity to enjoy.
Yeah…the heat is here – we have to hold each other accountable and not complain – we don’t like WINTER!! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, you do Shelley and that’s why my sun visor kept digging into my head today. 🙂 I got burned on my face a few weeks ago, so I’m trying to be smarter about sun protection – my forehead got burned plus my arms. It was a fun day! Yes, I “get” it – don’t complain about the heat now or it will come back as a bigger beast come Winter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hats sure come in handy, don’t they?! The heat is on for us to say, “I’m taking this weather over winter for now!!”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heat is better than the slip-and-fall and shoveling situations in Winter … minimal clothes to get out the door and with all the heat, the grass won’t grow
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁🤣😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Linda, for documenting the growth of gosling-to-goose. Fun to see! We have a gaggle that hang out some of the time at a pond down the street. I heart them announcing their arrivals and departures when I sit on the deck and always look up to watch them pass. Such big and heavy-looking birds to get airborne!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you liked this post Nancy – it was fun to compile week by week. They have been gone about 10 days now, so I finished up just on time! The parents paddle down to the Detroit River (about a mile away from Council Point Park) and they stay there until they get their feathers back. By then the goslings will be flying as well. I was at Elizabeth Park today and saw a group of them by the canal – had to be 30-40 geese congregating at the canal’s edge. They can make a quick entry into the water if a land predator is around and feathers all over that park. They do make a noise don’t they and when they are ready to descend, the noise is like they are trying to decide exactly where to land!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your conjecture about why they honk so much when they land! : )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nancy, I imagine a thought bubble over their heads while they determine if the grass IS really greener on the other side as a debate ensues about what fields offer the best grazing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, this was something fun to take a gander at. 🙂 seriously, the life cycle of goslings is cool.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why didn’t I think of that clever phrase JP? It is fun to watch them growing up like that, amazingly within the space of four weeks’ time. They paddled down to the Detroit River with their parents two weeks ago. Friday morning I was at the Riverfront and there was a group of geese sleeping in the middle of the River – there had to be 100 of them. They are safe there until their flight feathers grow back.
LikeLike