In the wetlands of Madison, Wisconsin, an extraordinary and rare wildlife event is captivating birdwatchers, photographers, and nature enthusiasts alike. A pair of sandhill cranes—a stately, gray-feathered species known for their tall stature and haunting calls—have been spotted raising an unlikely chick: a bright yellow Canada goose gosling. This unusual family, with two crane parents, their own red-feathered colt, and an adopted gosling trailing behind, is only the third documented case of such cross-species adoption in North America.
The phenomenon, while rare, seems to be happening with increasing frequency. Similar incidents were recorded in Michigan in 2019 and in Madison just a year ago. There are even reports as far back as 2011 in Alaska, where a Canada goose was observed living and acting like a crane. Ornithologists suggest that these occurrences may be more common than previously thought, due in part to the growing populations and overlapping habitats of both sandhill cranes and Canada geese.
Anne Lacy, director of eastern flyway programs at the International Crane Foundation, explains that both species have made remarkable comebacks in recent decades, thriving in environments that blend urban and natural elements. Cranes, traditionally wetland dwellers, have adapted to semi-natural suburban environments, while geese, as grazers, are comfortable in manicured ponds and grassy areas. These overlapping habitats create more opportunities for unusual interactions between the two species, especially during breeding season.
The exact origin of the current adoption remains a subject of local debate. Some believe a Canada goose laid an egg in the cranes’ nest, while others speculate that the cranes may have taken over a goose nest after their own was destroyed by spring floods. Regardless of the explanation, what’s clear is that the gosling, upon hatching, imprinted on the cranes and now behaves as if it were their own chick.
Local photographer Marjorie Rhine was among the first to witness the surprising family dynamic. She recalls the shock of seeing a yellow gosling emerge from beneath the wing of a nesting crane, a sight that defied her expectations. What struck her most was the parental devotion shown by the cranes toward the gosling, treating it with the same care and affection as their biological chick.
Since the discovery, the crane family has become something of a local sensation. Photographers and birders have captured countless images and videos, observing the cranes feeding, sheltering, and fiercely protecting both their colt and the adopted gosling. In some instances, the cranes have even defended the gosling from its presumed biological parents—an agitated pair of Canada geese who have repeatedly attempted to reclaim their offspring. Witnesses like photographer Alan Ginsberg have described dramatic encounters where the crane father used his impressive wingspan to ward off the geese.
The reasons behind the cranes’ acceptance of the gosling are rooted in biology and behavior. According to Michael Ward, an ornithologist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign