They debuted on exhibit around June. The zoo usually takes all eggs to the hospital to hatch them. They share an exhibit with a Siberian musk deer pair who also had a baby this year. The zoo breeds a lot of waterfowl.
So they didn't hatch in January! That's a relief, really skewed my world picture. Pretty sure you would only get them to lay in December/January in the Southern Hemisphere!
Confused, if they debuted on exhibit in June? For my money, somebody's got this wrong, like the education team member in a zoo who told people Roulrouls couldn't fly!
He is saying that the adult pair were put on exhibit in June. (Actually March) The goslings which hatched did so in January, according to the zoo. (This was reported on their Facebook as well as their Twitter feed, on 26 January)
Absolutely. Every time we bred them, it was in a normal northern hemisphere spring. They respond very quickly to increasing day-length and favourable climatic conditions, as would be expected - and equally quickly go 'off-the-boil' if these fluctuate...
Thank you Andrew. The only way they could breed in the winter, is if they were indoors with extra lighting, but it's very unlikely they would do so. The far Northern geese have evolved to be very cautious breeders, and will only do so if conditions are exactly right. As Andrew says, they are easily put off.
I have no waterfowl experience (besides looking at them, chasing wild ducks and touching farm ducks, plus the occasional meal of duck) but even I find this strange. It's like finding out penguins live in the Arctic.
Which is actually more likely, given that translocated King Penguins actually lived wild off the (I think) Danish coast for a few years. Also, the Great Aul wad the original 'penguin'.
Done that, appears to be genuine, asked them how it happened, hoping they'll get back to me. Apologies all round for my scepticism.
No need to apologize, things like this can be very confusing, and can raise up questions amongst others.
Akron Zoo receives $1.5 million gift for upcoming expansion - www.akronzoo.org Zoo received $1.5 million gift.
