Meeting goslings on the way
We are participating in a summer camp, following the group of children around for a week. As we are leaving lunch and heading towards the next activity, the children suddenly come to a stop. By a busy central square, a goose family is moving from a pathway onto a lawn to feed. Two of the goslings are struggling to get up onto the lawn, repeatedly jumping against the bordering stones. Coming from a break, the children are moving in a line towards the peacock enclosure.
The goslings' efforts caught the children's attention, sparking concern and affection: "Oh no, we have to help them." One child spreads their arms to guide passing humans away from the geese. As a result, everyone turns their gaze toward the geese. The teachers, focusing on maintaining the schedule and keeping the group in order, reassure the children that the geese would manage on their own. When the goslings finally manage to hoist themselves onto the lawn, the children exclaim, "Yay!" and clap happily before continuing their journey.
(based on the researchers’ notes, zoo 2023)