Subject: Re: Iron staining in geese & swans
Date: Mar 1 21:34:03 1995
From: Eric C Eines - n8240316 at henson.cc.wwu.edu


A thought on stained body parts. Bellies/breast vs. head/neck

Perhaps the stain remains on the neck and head because of the difficulty
of cleaning these areas. Furthermore, the act of rooting around with the
bill and neck during feeding provides direct contact to the iron rich soil
water matrix, much more so than simply floating/resting on water.