Lost Goslings

[Quail345]

I had a sebastopol goose sitting on 4 eggs for 35 days, and they all hatched. Mama took her babies to the slough everyday, but one day when they came back up from the slough, all 4 goslings were gone. Saw a red tailed hawk circling above my mature geese, could it be him? All three of my geese made a protective triangle around the goslings, so I don't understand how all 4 were just gone.

 

[BirdWrangler]

I had a sebastopol goose sitting on 4 eggs for 35 days, and they all hatched. Mama took her babies to the slough everyday, but one day when they came back up from the slough, all 4 goslings were gone. Saw a red tailed hawk circling above my mature geese, could it be him? All three of my geese made a protective triangle around the goslings, so I don't understand how all 4 were just gone.

Could be a hawk, or maybe a raven or crow?

 

[BirdWrangler]

Almost any predator will snatch a chick if they get the chance

 

[Quail345]

Yes, I saw a small hawk fly overhead, and we do have lots of crows and bald eagles