We have had a flurry of calls regarding young canada geese dropping in on peoples gardens and appearing 'tame'.

We are now in the period for many young geese (and indeed swans) to be taking to the skies for their first flights. As you can imagine, the sensation of first flight can be quite overwhelming, not least tiring once you have hauled your large frame into the skies.

Although the swans will generally stay in tight family groups until the New Year, often the young geese will peel off from the skein and sometimes fall short of their destination, occasionally landing in gardens and parks, or waterways way from where the flock was aiming for.

Usually after resting for a while (usually hours, but sometimes a few days), the bird will take to the skies again to look for either their own flock or another flock to join up with. Only if the bird is trapped in an area it cannot take off from should you need to intervene. If this is the case, wrap it in a towel/coat/blanket and take it to your nearest safe waterway with other resident Canadian Geese to allow it to settle once more.

Note that if the young geese have not been used to people, they may appear tame and inquisitive - this is simply becausethey have not been taught the alarm calls by the parents for predators; they will quickly learn these important lessons when mixing with other geese on the waterway.

Nigel