Gloria, however, had other ideas. A young goose of strong mind, she soon took to the road, and ended up on our dam the next morning. It was agreed that it was too stressful for all concerned to try and catch and bag her again, so here she stayed.
She established cordial relations with the ducks, and found a particular friend in Glossy Feathers, the lone muscovy duck. For most of the year she sleeps in the duck house and shares their food, her size and attitude ensuring that she is a goose of ample proportions....but only for most of the year.
Every spring the urge comes upon her and she retires to the reeds that fringe the dam, there to press down a nest and lay eggs. She refuses to go into the duck house at night, and thereby forfeits the daily feed. She sits diligently, waiting for the eggs to hatch (which they won't, being no Mr Goose here).
We haven't seen her for several weeks now, until this morning, when a much reduced goose stood expectantly at the front door, mucky, muddy, dishevelled and thin.
Which we did.