geese on the pond

We have a pair of Canada geese that occasionally build a nest on the tiny island in the middle of our small pond. Last year they laid seven eggs and hatched seven goslings. They hung around in the yard for a few days, wandering around, eating grass, and swimming in the pond. At night the mother and babies would sleep in the nest. Then one day, they just wandered off, and we didn't see them again. This was only the 2nd time they hatched the eggs. The first time, quite a few years ago, they had three goslings, and after a few days we watched them march across the driveway into the big field next to our house. We thought we had scared them off by getting too close, trying to watch them. I googled info on the habits of Canada geese, and leaving the area after the eggs hatch is common.

Poor little guys, their legs are so short they have a hard time walking over the rough ground. They fall over a lot and sometimes the adults step on them! I can't imagine how long it takes them to walk to wherever they are going!

The adults return every spring, sometimes they nest, sometimes they don't, we haven't figured out why. This year we had 2 pair and 1 single goose for a few days, one pair kept chasing the other off, and we have ended up with 1 pair and the single goose. One of them has built a nest and there are now 3 eggs in it. I hope they hatch these and I can get some pictures of the babies because they are really cute!

she is building the nest here on the island

if you look closely, you can see the other 2 eggs through the grass

this is the island, the water is still quite high

update: the geese all left without hatching any eggs, so no goslings this year!