Egyptian Goose
I have seen an Egyptian Goose on the Hocking for 2 years mixed in with a flock of Canada Geese. The Egyptian Goose is a beautiful goose but does not standout in the flock of larger Canada Geese. Egyptian Geese are colorful with pink legs, a pink bill and brown eye patches encircling each eye and have multicolored feathers that are brown, orange, black and white.
For many, the question is “Where did the Egyptian Goose come from”? An Egyptian Goose on the Hocking in Athens is an unusual event. After posting pictures to a birding website, the Egyptian Goose was identified as one who was domesticated and escaped when he was scared by a fox. This is the most reasonable explanation to explain the Egyptian Goose one the Hocking.
The Egyptian Goose is native to Nile Valley in Africa and was introduced in North America as an exotic species. It is assumed that the ones that do not live in captivity in the United States escaped from wildfowl collections . In the US, the first ones breeding the wild were in California in 1967 and Florida in 1980 ( ). There are established Egyptian Goose populations in California, Florida, and Texas (https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/egyptian-goose). Based on this information, an Egyptian Goose on the Hocking is Ohio is most likely an escapee.
It will be interesting to see how long he stays with the Canada Geese. They generally live about 15 years and like to live near water but not often they eat vegetation but will eat insects, worms, frogs. They rarely fly. I have observed him flying when all of the Canada Geese leave an area but he is usually one of the last ones to fly away. I also have noticed that he does not seems to play in the water as much as the Canada Geese but he will go in if he needs to follow the Canada Geese. Wonder if he is adapting to the behaviors of the Canada Geese.
Want to know more:
https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/egygoo/introduction
