The greylag goose wanders the fields of New Zealand in small, confused flocks. It is the ancestor of almost every domestic goose in Europe. Now it is here. The bird is large and grey-brown, with a thick neck, a heavy bill, and a distinctive honking call. It looks like a farmyard goose because it is a farmyard goose. Or rather, its descendants are. The plumage is grey-brown with pale fringes on the feathers. This gives it a scaled appearance. The bill is orange or pink. The legs are pink. The bird is heavy. It does not fly well. It prefers to walk. Feeding involves grazing on grass, seeds, and aquatic plants. The goose works in pastures, often in the company of sheep. It swims when it has to. It walks when it can. The call is a loud, nasal "honk," repeated at intervals. A flock taking off is a noisy affair. They call to each other, arguing about direction, settling into formation. The sound carries across the water. On a still morning on a South Island lake, the echo persists. It sounds like something ancient. Greylag geese are not native to New Zealand. They were introduced from Europe as ornamental waterfowl. Some escaped. Some were released. They have never established a truly wild population. The birds you see are semi-tame. They live on lakes and ponds in parks and private estates. Breeding happens in spring. The nest is a scrape on the ground near water, lined with down. Four to six eggs are laid. The female incubates alone. The male stands guard. The goslings can swim within hours. They are independent from the start. In Europe, these geese are migratory. In New Zealand, they stay put. There is no need to leave. The climate is mild. The grass is green. The lakes do not freeze. The greylag goose is the wild ancestor of the domestic goose. It has been domesticated for thousands of years. In New Zealand, the distinction is blurred. Most of the birds here are hybrids, descended from domestic stock. Genetic integrity is loose. The population is small. A few hundred birds scatter around the South Island. They are primarily found in Otago and Canterbury. They are not a threat to native birds. They are just there. No significant threats exist due to the small population size. Hybridisation with domestic geese affects genetic purity. Predation of eggs and goslings by introduced mammals takes a toll. The birds persist in wetlands, lakes, rivers, marshes, and coastal lagoons. They prefer open water with surrounding grassland for grazing. They are also found on farmland and pasture. The numbers are low. The visibility is high. It carries on.