Post #2820751
2026-05-09 06:42 UTC
Ganders are a bit like very early chess computers, which were programmed to be better more subtle players by giving them interim goals rather than "go on a king hunt". So you would sometimes get a computer in a dominating position deciding that "center control" was more important than checkmate, and proceeding to make two queens circle the center four squares.
Gander breeding success in the wild is about forming social alliances, protecting goslings, supporting nest-building behaviour.
Replies (2)
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@solar_chase@mastodon.green 2026-05-09 06:45
These ganders are extremely successful at alliances, they are chivalrous and protective of their chosen female goose, and are very keen to have some goslings to take care of! But, um, given I have tried to incubate over 20 eggs and got 2 fertile this year (one died early on), and from watching them, I think they are skipping a mission-critical step towards reproductive success. (I also have a lot of emails from people who would like young geese this year. Sigh.)
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@BashStKid@mastodon.online 2026-05-09 10:48
@solar_chase@mastodon.green I’d add a slight dark side, alliances have to be able to protect the eggs from other geese sneaking in to break and eat the eggs.