A pair of Canada geese take their very large brood for a swim along the River Thames at Caversham in Reading, BerkshireIf you think looking after two or three children is stressful enough, spare a thought for this over-worked parent.
The Canada goose has been left in charge of 40 goslings on the Thames in Reading, with only one helper to lend a wing.
Although so-called geese 'creches' - where the offspring of different parents get mixed up - are fairly common, experts say this is one of the largest and most understaffed they have seen.
Grahame Madge of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said: 'Canada geese are well known for forming creches.
'You tend to get them in areas where you have quite a large number of nesting geese in a small area.
'The broods get mixed up and you get a few adults looking after a large number of goslings.'
Canada geese were introduced here in the 17th century.
Like swans, they are monogamous and will only seek out a new mate if their partner dies.
source: dailymail
Posts
