A SAGA involving a pair of swans, a pair of geese and four goslings which has gripped a town has come to a tragic ending with a male goose being found dead in the water.
The avian drama has been documented by local Jessica Leung Miller, who has been keeping close tabs on a pair of geese and a pair of swans embroiled in a vicious territorial dispute.
Jessica began documenting the battle of the birds after witnessing a swan attack a goose on the River Tyne in Haddington, East Lothian.
Beginning almost a year ago Jessica saw the swan chasing a male goose from its nesting point on an island in the river.
From there the saga began with the swans and geese battling for survival and space on the river.
Both couples had babies, with the signets surviving but the swans sadly taking a disliking to the goslings and attacking them.
Observing the ongoing feud, Jessica rescued the goslings from the swan’s wrath and took them in, passing the injured babies to the SSPCA.
Just yesterday however, the feud seems to have escalated to murderous levels with Jessica discovering the body of “Mr Goose” in the river.
This tragically left Mr Goose’s partner, “Honkalot”, alone with her goslings gone and her partner dead.
Furious locals were quick to blame the swans – the aggressors of the yearlong feud – when Jessica shared the tragic news to social media.
Sadly, Mr Goose was unable to be rescued, and Jessica was forced to leave him on an island for the council to collect.
The suspect swans are nowhere to be seen, with their signets also on the run, prompting suspicion among locals.
Sharing a post to social media yesterday to lament his passing Jessica said: “It broke my heart to see Mr Goose laying still in the water. Hearing Honkalot honking, well, a lot.
“I genuinely couldn’t sit to wait around. Correct safety procedures were followed in order to bring him almost home. One of the rangers will be collecting him tomorrow morning.
“Please keep an eye out for the swans. I have not seen either recently and the rangers cannot do anything unless there is a sighting.”
