What are these geese doing at a pond? Did they once belong to someone as a pet? I was surprised to see the geese swimming along with ducks in a local park pond. White Chinese Geese, domesticated for hundreds of years, are often pets if tamed and handled often. These birds were obviously comfortable at this pond!

I noticed a knob on the upper side of its bill and some teeth when the goose started honking. I learned it is a basal knob which is more prominent on males and given time it is used in determining the sex of the bird. The “teeth” are not true teeth, instead cartilage on their beak and tongue! The hard, spiky cartilage allows them to tear through vegetation and to hold onto insects and rodents. No doubt not a bird to mess with, but to enjoy looking at instead!