The lives of Geese

In Germany, Austria and Switzerland today for thousands of farmers worry about lead that flock of geese can be a carefree life - day after day, year after year.

Whistling swans (Cygnus columbianus)

With an estimated 170 000 copies in 1990, the whistling swans the most widely used in North America swan species. They belong to the family of ducks (Anatidae) and the genus of the swans (Cygnus).

The hot end with a scientific name Cygnus columbianus Cygnus columbianus subspecies and its bewickii, who lives in the tundra of Eurasia Bewick's swan, are two of seven swan species worldwide. Their body length is between 120 and 150 cm, and its wingspan of 250 inches - they are thus larger than its subspecies. An average male weighs about 7.5 kg and females about 6.5 kg. Their plumage is white and their legs black. Below the eye is on their otherwise black beak, a yellow stain. wetlands in Alaska and Canada are the breeding grounds of whistling swans. Winter break for it in September or October on the south and continue for one to two months, the United States. After their return to their breeding grounds in May begins the mating season.

Around the age of three years whistling swans bind tightly to a partner and stay together until one of them dies. Some of them stay after a few years alone, others for good. They build their nests together, after which the female incubates from two to seven eggs while the male stands guard. The eggs hatch after 30-32 days the chicks. They are not heated as in many other species of birds under the feathers of their parents but on their backs. After about 70 days to fledge before, so much faster than other goose species. Over winter, the family stays together and separates only after returning to the breeding area, as the whistling swans the breeding season are very territorial. Yet the young are sometimes torn by foxes, coyotes, wolves, raccoons, or golden eagles, while the adult swans are rarely attacked by other animals. The only people they are hunted in some U.S. states. 4000 will be officially killed per year, further 6000-10000 illegal copies. Their natural life expectancy is 20 years. During the breeding season, the whistling swans feed mainly on aquatic plants, especially here of spawning herbs, but also by insects.

During their journey, and in winter quarters, they also eat crops, as most wetland plants and their supply will disappear by the development.