Confused

[Jodimarie]

There are 2 geese on my pond that hatch their young here every year. I believe it's always the same pair because she her eggs the same place every year. After the goslings hatch, they are only around with their parents about 4 days. From everything i have read, this is not usual behavior for them to leave their babies. It's happened 3 years in a row now. They hatched Mon and everything seemed fine, they all stuck together. It's now Fri, babies are gone. What is going on?

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I would think a predator got them. Fox or Coyote, probably at night.

 

[Jodimarie]

I would think a predator got them. Fox or Coyote, probably at night.

That makes me sad but I can't figure out why they keep coming back to the same place if keeps happening. They are the only pair of geese on the pond. I feel so bad for them,I know that sounds stupid but the mom keeps going back where hatched, it's just sad

 

[DiYMama540]

Oh no! I agree it sounds like a predator of some sort is getting them Hopefully mama goose will wise up and pick a new site next year!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Under water predators also. Snapping turtles are a big pred to water fowl babies.

We had a pair of Canada geese that would come and nest in our mountain river down below our home. It was a small island that she would put her nest on. Every year for at least 7 she would nest there and only one time in that span did she get to hatch goslings. The river would flood and wash her eggs away sometime only a few day to a week before hatch. It was so sad. Then they would hang around for a week like they just couldn't figure it out. This year they came she looked like she was going to settle in again and they were there for about 3 days then they disappeared. So hopefully they have found a new place that is safer. The year she hatched she had 6 they stayed around for about a week then they all must have floated down river to where the rest of the flock was. We have snapping turtle in our river so no telling how many survive each year.