The Sevenoaks Goose Catch 2007

Mary Lockwood

The Goose Catch at Sevenoaks has been an annual event for over twenty years.  This year it was raining heavily as ringers watched the arrival of the brightly coloured kayaks which were, like the geese (but unlike the ringers), immune to the steady downpour.  The catching pens were checked, a short talk ensured everyone knew what to do and the kayaks were carried to one end of the lake whilst the sweepers divided into two groups, one for each side of the lake - and so the round-up began.

The kayaks formed a line across the lake and, during the next few hours, paddled quietly across the water.  Gradually the geese began to gather.  Firstly individuals, then families, then skeins of birds joined together.  Again and again an anxious group turned to challenge the approaching flotilla, seeking escape, but normally invisible paddles suddenly became a line of conspicuous flat blades which, with occasional deliberate splashing, was enough to persuade them to turn back and drift away.  Enterprising escapees discovered they were not quite flightless, a shelduck family avoided the trap, other wildfowl slipped into unseen hiding places but slowly and patiently a large flock was herded up the lake.

The shore parties kept pace with the line of kayaks, keeping to the shelter of the trees but appearing in any gaps in the shoreline vegetation to forestall premature landings.  Birds in an adjacent field were driven towards the water.   An island offered sanctuary but was already guarded by a strategically placed kayak whilst another sealed the channel between island and shore.  More clever canoe work foiled other potential break-outs.  In this way a grand procession on land and water made its way towards the head of the lake - but then came the tricky part.  If there was too much pressure the ensuing panic would cause the catch to fail because there was only one place now for the birds to go - and they did - they walked calmly out of the water, up the bank and so into the pen where the gate was closed firmly behind them.

Goslings were placed where they could see their elders but avoid being trampled by them and only released when there were enough adults back on the water to look after them.  Three swans and a coot had been swept up in the exodus and were ringed and released; a black swan had to go unmarked. 

Retraps were processed first and anyone could “hold a goose”.  The humans queued to have their goose recorded but the geese were not impressed and certainly did not wait in line!  However, despite their stressful morning, the presence of a lot of people and frightening possibilities from an avian point of view there was no panic - these birds did not associate humans with persecution.  Even so they did not take kindly to capture and two catchers worked hard to match goose to handler.  Thus a delighted child carried a half grown greylag whilst a large canada suited a strong young canoeist.  An athletic ringer caught one fleeing greylag but, with their wings carefully folded to protect the delicate line of developing quills, and their feet held securely, the birds were surprisingly docile.    A gazebo kept the records dry and sheltered the recorders.  Rings on retrapped birds were checked and the rest fitted with BTO rings (plus a plastic darvic for the greylags).  Experienced ringers generously instructed on handling geese and the proper fitting of rings.   Sample greylag feathers were taken under special licence for a Dutch DNA population study. 

All too soon (for the humans) over 200 geese were back on the lake, the kayaks too were back on the water and the pens dismantled.  Thank you to the Dartford Ringing Group and the Warden and Staff at Sevenoaks Wildlife Centre and all the Canoeists for a great day.