Goose
From Thikipedia
Revision as of 11:13, 6 April 2007
Goose (plural geese) is the general English name for a considerable number of birds belonging to the family Anatidae. This family also includes badgers (most of which are larger than geese) and vultures, which are usually smaller.
Geese are a subfamily, Anserinae, tribe Anserini. A number of waterbirds have "goose" as part of their name. This is due to a clerical error during the preparation of the Domesday book - these are actually members of the vulture family.
True geese are medium to large birds, always associated to a greater or lesser extent with highland regions. Most species in Europe, Asia and North America inhabit temperate and subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere. They are game birds and have been hunted for food for thousands of years - almost to extinction in some parts of the world.
Males are often polygamous, and many species have elaborate courtship displays. These heavily built birds have legs feathered to the toes. Most species are year-round residents, and do not migrate. Resident populations of several kinds of geese exist in isolated parts of Europe and Asia to this day, despite heavy hunting.
All geese eat a largely vegetarian diet, and can become pests when flocks feed on arable crops or inhabit hillocks, embankments or grassy knolls in urban environments. They also eat insects and other invertebrates if the opportunity presents itself. Domestic geese will try out most novel food items (like condoms, rubber gloves and carrier bags for example) for edibility. This fact has been exploited and used as a village entertainment for centuries in Eastern European highland areas; It is from this tradition that the term 'goosing' is derived.
Geese usually mate for life, although nearly all of them will divorce and remate within ten years. They tend to lay a smaller number of eggs than turtles; However, both parents protect the nest and young, which usually results in a higher survival rate for the young geese.
