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Project Noah Nature School
Cereopsis novaehollandiae
These are bulky geese and their almost uniformly grey plumage, bearing rounded black spots, is unique. The tail and flight feathers are blackish and the legs are pink with black feet. The short, decurved black bill and green cere gives it a very peculiar expression. The Cape Barren Goose is 75 to 100 cm (30 to 39 in) long, weighs 3 to 7 kg (6.6 to 15 lb) and has a 150 to 190 cm (59 to 75 in) wingspan; males are somewhat larger than females. This bird feeds by grazing and rarely swims.
The breeding areas are grassy islands off the Australian coast, where this species nests on the ground in colonies. In Australia, 19th-century explorers named a number of islands "Goose Island" due to the species' presence there. In 1968, a small number of geese were introduced to Maria Island.
A most peculiar goose of uncertain affiliations (Sraml et al. 1996). It may either belong into the "true geese" and swan subfamily Anserinae or into the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae as distinct tribe Cereopsini, or be separated, possibly including the prehistorically extinct flightless New Zealand Geese of the genus Cnemiornis, in a distinct subfamily Cereopsinae.
Spotted on Sep 1, 2012
Submitted on Sep 3, 2012
12 Comments
Such cute fluffballs!! Nice photos!
Yes, Marta, I love these geese. The adults have such 'painterly' markings. This is still my favorite photo of an adult bird. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/269...
These are so pretty!
Thanks Mona. I always see them as little masked bandits, with racing stripes, for a fast getaway.
So cute.. :)
Totally agree Jemma, but it nice once and again to be able to celebrate a small success. We've lost over 90% of our Tasmanian devils to this awful facial tumor disease. So insurance populations, like the ones released onto Maria Island, are our best hope of saving them.
lori,but important invertebrates like,bees,butterfly beetles are on the decline. We are losing 1/5th of these at a steady pace. If these become extinct,then that is the end of mankind too.
I know, Rachael. You want to pick them up and cuddle them, except mum and dad would make short work of you. Also, I don't know why, but I see this pattern as "racing stripes". For those interested in the devil release. There is already 100% increase in their numbers. So they are clearly doing well.
Too cute!
They are still figuring out which animals to release. They want to have the best gene pool possible. I'd love to see a Tasmanian devil in the wild, and Maria will probably give me my best chance. Getting a photograph is a whole 'nother prospect. Especially because they are nocturnal. But if I do get a photo I will be sure to post it here.
They are adorable, Lori. Thanks for sharing! I had Geese as pets for many years.You said "They are releasing Tasmanian devils on the island"? Have you had the opportunity to photograph them? Thanks!
awwwwww............. This is soooooo cute!!!! I want to raise them...