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The habitat is the temperate zone of Eurasia from Eastern Europe to the Far East.
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Length - 70-90 cm.
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Weight - 2-4.5 kg.
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The diet includes herbaceous and aquatic plants, seeds, berries.
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Life expectancy is up to 20-30 years.
The ancestor of domestic geese. In Egypt, 2200 BC, gray geese were bred as poultry.
Social behavior
Form permanent pairs. During the nesting period, they occupy a separate area, and outside the breeding period they keep in flocks. The number of birds in one flock can range from several birds to several hundred. During migration, flocks unite to ensure greater safety.
Reproduction
Laying eggs in March-May. In clutch 4-12, which are very densely incubated by female. Incubation lasts 28 days. Having dried up, the goslings leave the nest. Parents take them to the water, where chicks learn to forage on their own.
Species and people
Previously, gray geese were one of the main commercial species. But at present, due to a significant reduction in numbers, they have lost their commercial value. When gray geese were numerous, they harmed winter crops. However, now birds can cause local damage to crops only during wintering, gathering in large flocks.
Interesting Facts
In ancient Rome, the geese of the Temple of Juno were revered for having saved Rome, when at night, when the Gauls attacked, vigilant birds woke up the guards of the Capitol with a loud cry.