Molting Options

[MJ]

when the geese molt can they fly?

[Leslie_Pierce]

Hi MJ,

No, when the geese are molting they have lost their old flight feathers and are growing new ones. So, they cannot fly for a few weeks until the new feathers grow in. The adult molt happens as the goslings are getting bigger and beginning to grow their first flight feathers. So, it works out pretty good for snow geese parents - they are flightless along with their goslings!

Actually, during the banding operation, some adult geese did have long enough flight feathers to actually fly. And, some did fly away from us or out of the pen after they were captured! And, some of the adults that could fly did not in order to stay with their young. It seems that their maternal and paternal instincts are very strong.

Ms Pierce