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Magpie Goose

(Anseranas semipalmata)
Alternative names: "Pied Goose", "Black-and-white Goose", "Semi-palmated Goose"
Size: 75-90 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Previously found along most of the coastlines of Australia, the range of Magpie Geese has since European settlement been greatly reduced. At present they are mostly found in the northern tropics, from about the Kimberleys in WA via the top end of the NT, the south end of the Gulf of Carpentaria, all of Cape York and along the eastern coastline and hill ranges of QLD. Occasionally (see below) also found in northern and central inland NSW.

Magpie Geese are often found in densely vegetated swamps, usually along flooded rivers, lakes and billabongs.

Sightings

We saw large numbers of Magpie Geese in the Northern Territory, especially Kakadu National Park, in 1997.

It was a rare sight when a group of 7 birds stopped over at Narrabri Lake, Narrabri, NSW, in October 2008. We saw 4 birds at the time. In the winter of 2010 again a few birds stayed at Narrabri Lake. In October it turned out that about a dozen birds had stayed to breed at Narrabri Lake, as shown in photos below. After the summer of 2010/11 the whole lot disappeared again. At that time conditions were exceptionally dry and Narrabri Lake's water surface had dropped to a very low level, rendering the entire area exposed and dry where Magpie Geese had stayed before. 4 birds were spotted again in November 2011.

Photos

Frontal portrait

Lateral view of a Magpie Goose

Here a bird paddling away...

... and here seen from behind

Lateral view of a bird stretching its wings

Magpie Geese at Narrabri Lake in October 2008; probably a male bird at the centre and two females left and right

Flock of Magpie Geese foraging in a billabong with their heads underwater

Magpie Geese not only live on water and feed under water - they also drink the wet stuff...

Magpie Goose in flight

Adult Magpie Goose with two chicks on the retreat after being disturbed

Here a closer look at the two little rascals

Adult Magpie Goose with a chick

Here a look into the "nursery" - a total of three chicks were counted on Narrabri Lake in October 2010

Seen again on another day, now with all three chicks in sight

These birds were seen in January 2011, when the chicks had grown to about half the size of adult birds

Here a photo of the youngsters at Narrabri Lake taken in April 2011; by now they are very similar to the adults

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Nomadic/dispersive Elementary unit: Flock

We have observed the mother geese shown above do something that struck us as quite unusual - they sent their chicks out onto open grassland for grazing. What happened is the following.

First a sentry checked out whether the area was secure; at the time the other mother geese and the chicks were still hiding in tall reeds; note the presence of other birds going about their business of feeding undisturbed

When the sentry had declared the area safe, the three chicks were sent out to graze; no adult goose went with them

When a pedestrian approached on a nearby walking trail, the sentry called the chicks back to the water...

... before everybody disappeared into the reeds - and thereby safety - again

Food

Like all other geese, ducks and swans, Magpie Geese are vegetarian. Magpie Geese feed on underwater plants. Note that the chicks seen above were sent out to graze on grassland.