NIENHUIS J, HULSCHER JB & VOSLAMBER B (2020) A neck band as a distinguishing feature of recognition for a Greater Canada Goose Branta canadensis gosling by its family. LIMOSA 93 (2): 79-81.

A 64-day-old Greater Canada Goose, a young adopted two days after hatching, lost its neck band on July 26, 2019, after having worn it for 17 days. Henceforth he was treated aggressively by his foster parents and his seven siblings, the other Greater Canada Geese in a moulting flock and a pair of Egyptian Geese with young. Apparently they no longer accepted him. The young goose tried to rejoin his foster parents, initially remaining at a distance of 10-40 meters from the family group. The hostility declined gradually and on July 31 the gosling had returned into the family group, although it was still treated with moderate aggression. On that same day the young goose was caught again and given a new neck band. He joined his family immediately and remained close to his foster mother. No aggression whatsoever was apparent. It seems the neck collar had become a distinctive cue for recognition of a family group member.
Ringing with a conspicuous neck band may have a major impact on behaviour towards a gosling. However, we have never noticed any recognition problems between individuals in a flock or between family or pair members after our yearly collective catching and banding sessions.

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