We found a secret goose nest the other day, filled with 10 eggs!
The eggs were completely covered with leaves and partially buried in the pebbles and leaf mulch surrounding our front porch!
Goose nest right by the front porch!
The only reason that I noticed the nest at all was because China was laying in the leaves, totally flattened out as if she were dead. Since she’s usually very wiggly and noisy, I was surprised about how quiet and still she was! She didn’t move when I came close to her, and didn’t even blink. I watched to see if she was breathing, and I didn’t see any movement at all. I suppose she was holding her breath, but I was worried she was hurt (or worse)!
I even poked her with a stick and she refused to move.
I walked away to see if she would act normally once I left, and later I could see that her head was up and looking around. An hour later when I was back inside, I looked out the window to see her walking around the yard as usual.
That’s when I realized that she had to have been sitting on a nest! Geese will sometimes try to “lay low” by being still and quiet if they think danger approaches them and their nest.
When I checked out the nest I counted 8 eggs, and a day later there was 10!
Unfortunately the geese have not been sitting on them consistently (they trade off) so we don’t think they are viable eggs. But, we’ll see! Such an exciting springtime surprise, anyway!
First goose eggs of the year!
.:.