Chinese geese - up close and personal by goodoleboy
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Description
Captured during my second visit, back on 5/12/10, at the beautiful Whittier Narrows Recreation Area in not-so-beautiful South El Monte, California.
Some varieties of the species, taken with my DSLR. These are not telephoto pics; the fowl were as close as they look. Note the dewlap on the one at the bottom. Do ZOOM.
I had planned other subject matter for today, but after reading the comments from yesterday's Chinese Geese collage, advising me on not getting too close to these guys lest they become hostile and bite, I decided to go back to my two-year old fotos of goose heads, tons/tonnes of which I have in my files, just to show that the viewer's concerns are ill founded. I took these shots while seated at a picnic bench, closely surrounded by these creatures, and not feeling rushed or threatened in any way. The reason? The simple formula: humans = food = so don't bite the hand that feeds you. People eating at the picnic tables have been handing or tossing tidbits to these guys forever, so an amicable and trusting relationship has evolved as a result, even while walking and standing amongst them. Just like Snow White with her birds and wildlife.
The wildlife in this area live in complete harmony with the humans that come to visit. If the geese feel threatened in any way they respond by either rapidly walking away and/or by emitting a low level honking, even with their goslings around.
Farvel, thankx for coming aboard, and for any and all favs and noncritical comments.
Comments (14)
magnus073
These are some really cool captures Harry, I've never seen Chinese geese before
morningglory
Outstanding close-ups of these Geese. Great details and the first two captures are especially wonderful.
jocko500
they do get mean at times as one chase me when i was around 18. I never know they was like that. Not if they come at me I thow my arms to the side and yell at them. some cool shots here
goodoleboy
jocko500: I've been to several nature centers to take photographs of geese, been standing and walking right next to them and never been chased or threatened by the fowl.
blondeblurr
I have never seen such unusual specimens - thank heavens for the DSLR - I can view them macro style and find these Chinese Geese simply amazing, especially with their 'bumps on top' ;) - and they do look a bit prehistoric ... good job Harry,
npauling
A marvellous collage of these geese. I am amazed at how different they all are. Excellent captures and I am glad they were friendly.
danapommet
I like the blue eyes in #1 and #4 but also respect the 'teeth' in #2..
durleybeachbum
Fab pics, Harry! I really like these.
Hendesse
Excellent close-ups with fantastic details. Here you can see very well that birds are descended from dinosaurs.
debbielove
Domesticated Geese don't tend to bite anyway.. Thats what these are.. Like you quite rightly say Harry, hand that feeds, they won't bite.. Wild birds, might! They are not used to humans.. Thus, do not know the hand that feeds. They get food themselves normally.. It is WRONG to get Wild birds to rely on humans to feed them.. BUT....as we humans have chopped down, killed, driven away everything they used to live on or in, what are they to do? They will go near humans.. AND sometimes people WILD birds WILL bite! GREAT shots Harry! No-one will read this (except you mate), no-one will take a blind bit of notice.. The world will carry on killing itself.. Sad, so sad....) Rob
racolt33
Cool, Geese portraits Dad !
MrsRatbag
What marvelous portraits these are, Harry! Beautiful birds, and they do seem quite friendly. I'm usually pretty good at reading animal/bird behavioural signals, so my only experience with being "attacked" by a wild swan was simply because I was trespassing on its territory, and therefore deserved it.
tennesseecowgirl
Beautiful details on these, great collage!
anahata.c
yes, these birds, when they're used to humans who feed them, can become friendly and cooperative. Like Denise (in her comment), you obviously know how to be around birds without threatening or disturbing them, so they respond to you. The only time I was near-attacked by common Canadian Geese was when I lay on the ground to get closeups: Finally a few turned around and came at me quite aggressively. I was too close to their territory by lying in the grass, but otherwise they pretty much ignore you, and will approach if you have food... Just an amazing array of profiles, and of those amazing beaks. It reminds me of your car montages because you're showing us sights that most of us never see (in this case not because they're so rare in their own right, but because we just don't get close enough to them to see these amazing beaks). And you show them with wonderful detail. Each beak is as amazing in detail as the last, you've alternated one side to the other to the other, and the detail in the eyes and feathers and those humps on their beaks is just amazing. A very dedicated montage, each capture a revelation, and wonderful to see them all stacked up like this. Man I'd love to get bird shots like this. This is beautiful.