Ruud Streefkerk

The Egyptian goose is a duck-like bird belonging to the family of the Tadorninae (half-geese). This goose mainly lives on land, although it is able to swim well. They are rather aggressive birds and also among themselves they are not very tolerant. This aggressiveness is the trademark of these geese. For instance they use brute force to pinch the nests of other birds - usually affecting Greylag geese, but also birds of prey, crows and other ducks - and they even make no bones about drowning the ducklings of other species. The ancient Egyptians considered the Egyptian Goose as a holy animal and depicted it regularly in their art. This one is searching for food in shallow water, its reflection is clear to see despite of the ripples on the surface.