Friday, May 23, 2008

   goslings
They know where I live! Haha, I'm half kidding. They kind of do because last summer all my research was at my pond. The Fire Group and the Tabasco Group are hanging around with each other. They showed up at my pond today. Scorch and Char are the two grabbiest of the Fire goslings. They're both lighter in the face so I would guess them to be ganders, but last season all the Fire goslings were light in the face except Soot and he turned out to be the only gander. I could say they're ganders because of the aggression they're already showing, but all Fire goslings are aggressive. They have to be with Attila and Lilith as parents. Speaking of Attila, he attacked a few of the Tabasco goslings. He was doing really well, just kissing and stuff, then he just bit down on one and started shaking it. Fennel and Ember were freaking out but wouldn't get too close so I stood up and walked between the two groups. He's the nastiest gander I've ever seen. His own goslings are afraid of him. And he's not too big. Fennel's bigger than he is. Lilith is actually a little bigger than him. I got a few pictures of him and and the rest of the Fire Group. My computer attached to the printer is being stupid so it'll take awhile to get them up. I got a good one of Scorch. He was sleeping and just suddenly woke up and walked over. Of course, Attila and Lilith didn't like that so I got stuck with Attila a couple feet from me and Lilith staring at me, but it was okay. Smoke is the darkest of the five. And Despite Inferno's name, he's the one that sticks closest to Lilith. Blaze just does whatever. He's cute. He's pretty dark too but not like Smoke is. These five are at the age the Spice Group was last season when I started studying them. It's a good age. They're still young but they're a little more independant and don't listen to their parents as much.

And now about the Tabasco Group. Two seasons really shows up when I'm working with them. Fennel and Ember are always hissing, but it's warning hisses and only a slim few are directed at me. They're mostly directed at the goslings and Attila. Fennel is still very grabby with food. I try to toss it to him because he doesn't care if he gets my fingers or not. Geese have pretty sharp insides to their beaks. I don't mind nibbles, Florcie (Fennel's mother) used to nibble at my toes and she loved pulling my socks. But Fennel just bites down. He's a little greedy with food. He steals it from his own goslings. He bit one on the beak trying to get the bread from it. It shrieked. Ember wasn't too pleased about that. She's the only one he won't steal from. It's drizzling out so after I broke up Attila and his grand-gosling, I was crouching between them. I had to be careful about my balance because the little Tabasco goslings were all around my feet. They still freak out if I put my hand out to feed them, but other than that they're fine with me being there. Ember was getting right in my face to get food. She even looked like she was going to stick her head under my arm to get it off my lap. And she's still so gentle. I like hand-feeding her because she's aware that you're connected to the food and doesn't bite you. Cinnimon is still the darkest of the six. I got a picture of her and Arson. I don't think any of the pictures will come out too great because of the weather, but it's worth a shot. Arson's personality is definately that of a young dominate gander. He'll probably be a nice version of Attila. So, kind of like Fennel's father, Faust, but more aggressive. He'll probably be the first of the Tabasco goslings to eat from my hand, just like Scorch will be the first if this season's Fire goslings, and Ash (Ember's sister) was the first of last season's Fire goslings, and Basil was the first of the Spice Group. He was the first of all of them.

There was a drake in my pond when I was feeding the Fire Group. He kept trying to come closer but once Attila came into view he flew off. Attila is that mean. Very pretty gander, but so nasty.

And there's been a goose in one of the Ashford ponds. The weather's been bad, again, so I haven't gone over. Now that no one is nesting anymore the Spice Group keeps coming back to those ponds randomly. I hope I get to see all of them once before leaving for vacation.
Comments (0) | Permalink

Thursday, May 22, 2008

   birthday
It's my birthday. I forgot it was going to be my birthday until yesterday when my dad called to remind my mom that yesterday was my birthday. So then she had to tell him it wasn't yesterday it was today. No one remembered but her and my friends back east. It's pretty funny. It would've been funnier if she let everyone forget. Sometime next week I could've been all 'wait, I missed my own birthday'. She didn't think that would've been funny. So, now I'm offically an adult. I use twenty as an adult not eighteen because eighteen is still technically a teenager. Yep, I'm twenty and with this newfound adulthood comes...something. I don't know yet but I'm sure I'll find out after I move. I'm moving out to California. I'll be far away from everyone and everything I've ever known. I'm getting into the movie business. Well, technically television but I have to make a couple movies first to show what I can do. And now I am not 'Sinny-chan' or 'Sinny-san'. I'm 'Sinny-sama' because with my adulthood I'm just that much higher up. Pretty cool, huh? Well, let's hope this Holy day full of conquests past is good to all of you too. (I'm not being egotistical, it really is a Holy day for Roman Catholics and Polish people and centries ago Alexander the Great fought and won a victory today.)

SGAH
FYWR
Comments (0) | Permalink

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

   nearly a week
It's been almost a week since the Tabasco Group (Fennel + Ember) had their goslings. I lost my camera somewhere in the house since then so no more pictures until I find it. The Tabasco Group and the Fire Group have been sticking around with each other. Over the week they traveled to the residental pond. They just came back to the Wellington and Ashford ponds. Ember and the goslings were grazing among the Fire Group, while Fennel was forced to stand a few feet away. Ember's father, Attila, still doesn't accept him. It's cute and sad.

Yesterday I went to see the two groups, and to look at the duckling that recently hatched. There was a lone goose at the first Ashford pond with them. She had a bad leg. The geese are either getting their legs caught on something in the pond or it's from getting chased by Attila. Like I said before, Attila is named that for a reason. He's a small gander but he's the meanest one I've ever seen. Anyway, this goose also had a large white patch on her side. It was Tarragon, Fennel's sister. Fennel's a wild gander again, and a new father, so he chased her away too. Not like Attila did. Today a gander was in the pond with the Fire Group. Attila kept attacking him even though he was nowhere near the babies. This one wasn't as big as Basil and didn't come too close. I'm pretty sure it was Parsley, Fennel's other brother. It could've been a large goose and that would make her Sage or Poppy. I'm pretty sure Attila wouldn't attack his offspring like he attacked the lone goose. I'm almost positive since he lets Ember and her goslings graze right in the middle of his new goslings.

The new Fire Group goslings are already fully aware that I'm the symbol for food. They charge at me every time they see me. Scorch comes the closest of them all. It would be cute if Lilith and Attila weren't the parents. They're the only pair that I work with that I have to constantly stand up and make myself look big. When the goslings run ahead of them they get extra mean and charge me in a not I-want-food way.

The Tabasco Group goslings have grown over the week. They still aren't big or anything, but you can tell they've grown. They walk better and now know that I mean food. Ember and Fennel both ate from my hand today but Ember's still wary if the goslings try to get closer. She's a good mother. Even Fennel has turned more untrusting, as he should be. Garlic sticks close to Ember at all times. Cinnimon is very dark. I would automatically put it as a girl but I could be wrong. Ember's brother, Soot, was pegs as the only female in the Fire Group goslings last spring because of how dark he was. He turned out to be the only boy. Cinnimon could be the same way. It really is cinnimon in color. Arson is the hardest to keep trake of, like predicted. I knew when he was squeezing under Ember's wing that he would mean trouble. It's usually Fennel's job to keep track of him. Personality wise I'm guessing Arson will be a gander, following next to his Uncle Basil's footsteps.

And that's the update so far. I'll find the camera and get some pictures on here soon. Great weeks to all.

SGAH
FYWR
Comments (0) | Permalink

Thursday, May 15, 2008

   goslings
Well, the goslings hatched yesterday. I have pictures and names in the post below. I went out to see them but didn't stay long. Fennel's not used to walking behind everyone so he keeps walking up near Ember. he's also not all that used to listening to her. She's a new mom so very wary, even of me. Fennel was just happy to see me because I mean food. So he kept coming over for food but everytime he got too far from the babies Ember would start talking to him. He'd stand there looking at her and then looking back at me. Ganders are so cute that way. There are six goslings.


Empty Nest by ~Bella-Dean on deviantART


The Tabasco Group -minus 1 by ~Bella-Dean on deviantART
One of the goslings is hiding by Ember so you can't see him. Ember is in the very front.

Gosling and water by ~Bella-Dean on deviantART
I think this is Arson but I wasn't very close when I took this.

Four Goslings by ~Bella-Dean on deviantART


Lone Gosling by ~Bella-Dean on deviantART
I'm not sure which one this is.

Ember and Arson by ~Bella-Dean on deviantART
Arson at about half an hour old.
And there will be more pictures tomorrow. Let's hope for some nice weather.

Note: Basil's doing okay. All of the geese who didn't have goslings this season are at the residental pond keeping him company, his parents and other siblings inclueded.

SGAH
FYWR
Comments (0) | Permalink

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

   day 30
Wednesday, May 14, 2008: goslings hatch.

Today:
Since I'm out of school and have no job, I was sleeping in. The phone wouldn't shut up so I finally answered it. My mother said the goslings were hatching and she was going out to buy cookies that weren't for me. Stupid elementary teachers and their perks. I got dress, peeled off those foot detox things (they work), and hurried down to the nest. Ember was more splayed out than normal, but the weather's bad so it's understandable. She was much more hissy, but the weather's bad. There was no sign of goslings and Fennel was still on the other side of the road. I fed Ember and listened but didn't hear anything. My mom also mentioned the other five goslings, so I thought she was confused. It happens. Before I left to see Fennel, I decided that Ember was too splayed out even for the weather and gave my mom the benifet og the doubt. I went across the street to she Fennel. He's getting a little more careful about getting my fingers. It's the best I can expect from him. He was grabby as a gosling. Not nearly as badly as Basil. That guy would stick his head in your pocket to get the bread you were saving for later. The pair with the five goslings came over. They got closer than they ever have before. And now I know who they are. They're not Fennel's parents, Florcie and Faust. They're Ember's parents, Attila and Lilith. With it being drizzly they were clean enough to tell who was the goose and who was the gander. Attila is smaller than Lilith and so far has been the only pair where the gander is smaller than the goose. So, now we know that the Fire Group is back in full. I spent a little time with the new Fire Group goslings, but then Fennel, jealous that they were getting his attention, divebombed right in the middle of the goslings. Attila and Lilith were dubbed the Fire Group for a reason, one that I guess Fennel temporarily forgot. They chased Fennel off. I gave the goslings a little more bread and then decided to see if I could glimps Ember's goslings. Fennel, with a hurt ego, was watching me leave. I felt bad, even though it was his fault, so I called him and he came across the street with me. Not knowing his babies hatched, he still wouldn't go near the nest. I left him in the yard of an empty house and went to see Ember. I fed her some dandilions, her favorite much more than bread. I waited for her to move but then her parents and little siblings crossed the street after Fennel. I went back to see him since Attila and Lilith obviously weren't finished with him. They were named Attila and Lilith for reasons such as their fighting ability. Fennel took shelter in the first Wellington pond. The fish in there bite whatever enters the water so the Fire Group won't go in there. Since it's cold the fish were nowhere near the surface so Fennel was fine. When I realised he was okay, I went back to Ember. She moved a little and I heard goslings. They were still in the process of hatching because she kept wiggling. I saw the wing of one, the tail of another, and then a third's head. I'm confinate that the little guy had already seen Ember so I'm not worried.

Notes:
Well, we were all wrong about the day. I give the metaphorical cookie to Dranz and Linden. We've got gosling! Yay! My photobucket account isn't working right now so I'll put the pictures up on theOtaku in my Fas et Nefas world.

Ember of the nest 2 by ~Bella-Dean on deviantART


Fennel of the Spice Group by ~Bella-Dean on deviantART


Ember and Arson and Garlic by ~Bella-Dean on deviantART

Fennel + Ember:
Fenugreek
Kindling
Cinnamon
Flame
Garlic
Arson

SGAH
FYWR
Comments (0) | Permalink

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

   day 29
You're probably going to end up being right, Dranz. Still no goslings today. I'll go for the 15th since the geese were laid April 15th. Let's see if it's an even month or over.

Today:
It's pretty nice out so I sat next to the nest for awhile. I fed Ember and cleaned her water dish. She handled that a lot better then normally. I think the weather directly reflects her mood. It makes sense since she's got to deal with the weather every minute of everyday. I did a lot of hand feeding with her. She's way more gentle then Fennel. He doesn't care if he gets your fingers as long as he gets the food. After I fed Ember, I crossed the street to see Fennel. The pair with the goslings weren't around. They probably are at the residental pond where Basil lives. Fennel acts like a trained gander when it come to bread. He's very ammusing. I went back to the nest after that since I couldn't sit anywhere with Fennel because of the ground being soggy. I fed her some dandilions. When she was full she stood up and turned so that her back was facing me. She was starting to take a nap by the time I left.

Notes:
I was hoping the pair with the gosling would be around. I even brought an extra piece of bread with me. I need a positive ID before I can give the goslings names. While I'm ninty five percent sure that the pair is Florcie and Faust, I still want to make sure. Nothing messes up research like botched IDs, even if the research is now a for fun thing and not a get into school thing. Fennel comes to the kissing noises. I used that sound when dealing with kittens. It's funny that it works on geese. I glimpsed the eggs when Ember stood but didn't bother counting. In a few days there will either be goslings or an abandoned nest. And a credit to how well she knows me, Ember is still very much a wild goose. Yet, she let's me stick my hands around the nest and even will take a nap with her back to me. It's sort of cool.

SGAH
FYWR
Comments (0) | Permalink

Monday, May 12, 2008

day 28
No goslings, still.

Today:
I'm drop dead tired for being in the city all day, but I still managed to walk to the nest. No goslings, and today was my guess. Ember's still being very diligent (or however that's spelled). She's back to being friendly with the nicer weather. It'll be really nice Tuesday, hopefully we'll get goslings then. I've been seeing a lot of dead baby birds around lately and I'm slightly worried there could be some sort of illness. Geese are pretty strong though. I also went to see Fennel. He's still hanging around with that pair that has the goslings. I'm ninty five percent sure that they're Florcie and Faust. They've been letting him have it when he gets too close. One of his feathers was bent up.

Notes:
Well, my thought of May 12th was wrong. I'm going to take bets now. Pick either a date or that the eggs are duds. Whoever is closest in the assumed date, or whoever was right that they're duds, gets a metaphorical cookie. ^_^

SGAH
FYWR
Comments (0) | Permalink

Sunday, May 11, 2008

   day 27
I still think Monday will be the day, but I was hoping for today since it is mother's day. No goslings yet.

Today:
It's disgusting weather. It's cold and rainy. I drove over to the nest. It was the first time I drove without a bandage. I think I'm healed. I didn't stay with Ember long. I threw some bread and went over to see Fennel. Since he was near the road and at the same pond the pair with the gosling were, it wouldn't take much to get him to cross the street. I fed him quiet a bit by hand. The road is extra busy today since everyone is taking their mother out. So, a lot of people saw this wild goose eating from my hand and following me around. Good thing none of them know me. The pair with the goslings came over for food. I'm starting to get more and more convinced that they are Fennel's parents. When I turned my back to cross the street again, either the goose or the gander went after Fennel. I was too far to see what color the cheeks were at that point and I don't make a habit of getting in the middle of harmless nature. Fennel was trying to follow me across the street after that though. When I drove away he was still at the side of the road testing to see if it was safe to cross.

Notes:
I worry about Fennel getting hit by a car more than I should. He has car sense since he used to cross that road as a baby all the time. Now that he can fly he's even safer. The road shouldn't be too busy tomorrow since everyone will be at work and school. I'm really hoping for goslings. With everyone gone Ember can take them to see Fennel or he can go see them without the worry of cars. I haven't heard peeping for a few days and that worries me. I haven't stuck around for very long but I still think I would've heard something. My fear is that she didn't turn the eggs enough. If that's the case then the goslings were supposed to hatch a few days ago but weren't strong enough to get out and died. After how hard she's tried that would be terrible, but it does happen.

SGAH
FYWR
Comments (0) | Permalink

Saturday, May 10, 2008

   day 26
Still no goslings.

Today:
It was the shortest visit yet. I saw a protective side of Ember that I've never seen. She was so focused on one of my dogs who was well over ten feet away that she wouldn't even eat. A great sign for her future goslings. I also went and saw Fennel really quick. He was close to the road so I lured him back to the pond with a piece of breadstick. He ate from my hand. He's getting a little hyper.

Notes:
I drove by the residental pond on the motorcycle but I didn't see Basil. It's a fairly nice day so he was probably in the water. I watched the five goslings take a nap but didn't get close. They grow really fast.

SGAH
FYWR
Comments (0) | Permalink

Friday, May 9, 2008

   day 25
No gosling. My original thought of the 12th is looking very likely.

Today:
We're out of bread so I just walked down to check on Ember. She's getting so moody, a good sign that soon there will be babies. She was expecting food and wasn't happy when I didn't have any. She hissed a bit and snapped more angrily at the water bottle than usual. I can't blame her. The weather's cold so no joggers have bothered to toss bread for her to nibble on when I'm not there. Fennel was watching from across the busy road. He started walking over and almost got hit by a car. I went over to see him to show him I didn't have food and to get him away from the road. He's still very lonely. He was actually glad to see me even though I didn't have food. I brought my little brother with me again today but he just got an ipod so was extremely annoying and couldn't hear anything I said. He almost got hit by a car too. Just a bad day for cars.

Notes:
The family wth goslings is at the residental pond. Basil is also still there. He's alone except for the pair and their goslings. I'm hoping they come back to one of the Wellington ponds so I can confirm my suspicions that the pair is Florcie and Faust (Fennel's parents) or not.

SGAH
FYWR
Comments (0) | Permalink