Cape Barren Geese

• Nina Pham, Grade 6Z
• Short Story
• 2019

Cape Barren Goose
The ‘Cape Barren Goose’ is a large goose resident in Southern Australia. The species is named for Cape Barren Island, where specimens were just sighted by European explorers.
The scientific name to say Cape Barren goose is: “Cereopsis Novaehollandiae”. (Soree-op-sis) (novae- Hollan- dee)
The Barren Goose is a grazing bird, eating predominantly the common island, tussock grass, as well as spear grass and various herbs and succulents. They also eat pasture grasses, including barley, clover and legumes.

The Cape Barren Goose lay eggs in a nest in the tussocks of open grasslands. The nest is built by the male. Each pair establishes a territory in autumn, prepares a nest and defends it noisily and determinedly against other geese. The female incubates the eggs and the young are brooded by both parents equally.

Also, Cape Barren goose eats a lot, which means… they might have some yucky stuff...

The vocalisations of the Cape Barren goose are a distinctive loud, deep grunt or honk. The call of the female is higher in pitch.

By the 1950s the number of Cape Barren geese were so low that biologist feared the geese may lead to extinction! Various initiatives have been taken which have increased the goose population to a level no longer considered to be in danger. However, they remain one of the rarest of the world's geese.