Goslings almost ready to be relocated
It is almost time for the goslings to be reunited with the rest of their feathered family.
The goslings were very excited when the Addie arrived at their foster home yesterday.
They have been fostered by Hennie and Alida Brits at their home in Selcourt Enclosure for almost two months.
Since they were caught on October 3, and taken to the Brits’ home, Alida has fed and cared for them as her most prized possession.
She feels it is time for the birds to meet the rest of their feathered family.
These young birds are only covered in fine feathers, but tougher exterior feathers are visible on their wings.
The Brits family’s lawn has been eaten patch by patch by these birds.
They used to consume a small piece of lawn when they arrived at their temporary home, but it is vastly growing into much larger patches.
These birds got bigger and bigger and Hennie gave them enough freedom to graze, eat and swim.
The saying ‘grass is always greener on the other side’ became a true fact in the lives of these goslings.
Every time the area on the lawn turned yellow, the fence had to be moved and so the birds can eat green grass.
According to Alida, when she opens the gate, they stretch their necks to reach the greener grass on the outside of the fence.
The plan is to relocate them to the George Sutter Park duck pond once completed, but a date has not been set aside for this to take place.
Alida says it is not sure when the pond will be ready, but she feels it is time for them to have more space to swim and to graze.
Although they know each other well they also get very excited when Alida calls them.
After a photo was taken the birds showed no further interest in the camera.
They gathered at the gate and waited for an opportunity to slip out to greener pastures.
Alida says they will miss the birds when they are gone, but it will be the right thing to do to reunite them so they can enjoy the freedom of the water and their feathered family.
