Nile-Origin Goose in Sologne Since the 2000s Disturbs Herons and Raptors with Its Brooding Behavior

In Sologne, the Egyptian goose nests in trees, whereas its French cousins brood close to the ground. Its chicks have only one way to descend. This species, present since the 2000s, nevertheless changes the game for other birds.

The Egyptian goose, venerated along the Nile in antiquity, now lives in the ponds of Sologne

Its scientific name, Alopochen aegyptiaca, evokes a papyrus, and the ancient Egyptians revered this bird. Originally, the Egyptian goose lived in Africa, especially south of the Sahara and in the Nile Valley. That hot and dry environment, however, bears little resemblance to the autumn mists of Loir-et-Cher.

Male and female look almost identical, and only a slightly larger size betrays the male. Their russet and beige plumage bears a brown patch around the eye. Thanks to this detail, the bird is easily identified near a water body.

Escapes from parks or releases by owners have given rise to wild Egyptian goose populations in Europe

It all starts with human negligence. Ornithological parks, zoos and private collectors kept the goose for its elegant silhouette and warm colors. Yet some individuals escaped captivity, and poorly informed owners released others.

This scenario is not unique. Indeed, Great Britain, Germany and the Netherlands have experienced the same phenomenon. In these countries, wild populations established themselves from only a few escapees. The Sologne tale thus follows a well-known pattern.

In the Brussels region, the species has nested since 1984. Local ornithological monitoring shows an average increase of 7.9% per year. That amounts to more than 1,000% growth since 1992. Such a pace eventually worried European authorities.

Unlike French geese, the Egyptian goose broods at height and its chicks jump into the void to descend

French geese almost always nest on the ground, in reeds or tall grasses. In contrast, the Egyptian goose has no qualms about nesting up high. It chooses a ledge, the fork of a large tree or an old nest of a heron or a raptor.

Once born, the chicks receive no help to descend. The parents call them from the ground, relentlessly. So the little fluff balls jump into the void. This sometimes vertiginous fall confounds the Sologne walkers who witness the scene by chance.

The Egyptian goose usurps heron and peregrine falcon nests, and the European Union has classified it as invasive since 2017

During the breeding season, the Egyptian goose becomes highly territorial and aggressive. It goes as far as usurping nests already occupied. Thus, the herons and some raptors, such as the peregrine falcon, regularly pay the price. This direct competition for the best elevated nesting sites reduces their reproductive output.

In response to this spread, the European Union has reacted. Since 2017, it classifies the Egyptian goose among the exotic invasive species of concern for the Union. Henceforth, no one may import it, keep it, sell it, or deliberately release it on European territory.

That strict framework comes a bit late. The bird, established in Sologne since the 2000s, has already taken hold in the landscape. It also complicates the conservation of local species already fragile, which this competition for nests directly affects.