GOOSE'S STORY

CECIL'S PRIDE

The true story of a Lion King

This story will move you to tears.

PATCHES
2007


Patches. End of May 2007

 
    We noticed Patches and her mate, Pat, at the nest site sometime toward mid-May. Patches was quite unmistakable with her splotchy looking head and jagged white cheek patterns. Upon close inspection, it appeared as if some of the feathers above her head had been chewed off! We called her Splotches at first and then changed her name to Patches as we felt that Patches was a much prettier name and one that did describe her patchy facial appearance.
    When we first met them, Patches was nesting but by the early days of June, we thought they had abandoned their nest as they were running about together all the time we were there. They were a lovable couple, honking their exuberant greeting when they spotted us and either running or flying up to us.
    By June 4th, nesting had ended for the rest of the geese along the nest site,  non-breeders or parents who had lost their young had departed for the molting locations and families had walked their young charges to the park pond. We continued to visit the nest site because we spotted a lone goose sitting along the railroad tracks. By June 5th, there wasn't a single goose remaining at the nest site so we stopped visiting.
    Much to our surprise, Patches and Pat showed up at the park pond June 7 with three tiny day-old goslings!
Pat and Patches and their trio. June 8, 2007
 
    They were the youngest goslings in the park. In spite of their inexperience, they have been wonderful parents to their kids.
    Pat and Patches have not left the park to take her goslings on an extended vacation. They've been at the park nearly everyday and they have now earned the nickname "Stay-at-home-Parents."
    November 1, 2007: We have not seen Pat and Patches and their goslings since the end of September.


 

 


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