Thanks to everyone for stopping by! I'm flattered by the feedback and votes I've received here. I guess I'm not the only one who is totally smitten by spring fluff!

May 3rd, 2005: These photos are all of a flock of wild white geese that lives on the banks of the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The goslings hatched around May 1. I'll track their progress here as they grow, so come back to see the little fuzzballs grow up!!

May 5th, 2005: It was sunny and warm today, and most of the families were dozing in the sun. I try to be as respectful to the parents as possible and only approach as far as I can without disturbing the parents or the goslings. One family today allowed me to approach as close as 5-6 feet as long as I stayed crouched in a non-threatening position. Thanks, Mama and Papa Goose!

May 9th, 2005: They're a little over a week old, and as you can see below, they're already growing quickly. They are much more active and quick on their feet. Their fluff is also taking on more color, so they're easier to tell apart. Funnily, it seemed that their parents were more anxious about having a visitor today than last week, when the goslings were very small and vulnerable.

May 13th, 2005: They're almost two weeks old, and starting to take on the shape of adult geese instead of balls of fluff (photos start with "Black and Yellow" below). They're still very cute, though! They spend most of their time eating, followed by napping. They're fun to watch as they imitate their parents' behavior- craning their necks, flapping their wings, and nibbling on grasses and leaves.

May 30th: The goslings appear markedly older. I almost didn't see them when I first walked down to the river - I thought they were ducks! They're much bigger and bolder and spent most of the time I was there foraging for food... probably to support their rapid growth.

June 7th: The goslings are about 5 weeks old and just starting to develop their adult feathers... looks like they're going through their "adolescent awkward stage". They still "peep" for their parents when they're separated, though - like true adolescents :) I also saw them in the water today for the first time.