Cape Barren Goose, Victoria Australia

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Cape Barren geese are endemic to the southern coast of Australia, the coast of Tasmania, and a few small islands in between, including Cape Barren. Unlike other geese, Cape Barren geese swim infrequently and are largely terrestrial. This one was photographed on the coast of an off-shore island with the ocean in the background. The location provides an ideal and protected habitat for a large population of Cape Barren geese.

While Cape Barren Geese were once on the brink of extinction due to hunting and habitat loss, conservation efforts have significantly increased their population. They are now considered relatively common within their very limited range. They are no longer endangered, but are still classified as one of the world's rarest geese.

Most of the areas in which Cape Barren geese live do not have enough freshwater to support them, and they have adapted to drinking sea water. They have special glands in their heads that filter salt from their blood, and they expel excess salt through their nostrils (nares). This adaptation allows them to drink saltwater, which is crucial for their survival on isolated islands. A Cape Barren goose expelling excess salt is seen in the image below. The salt water it expels has a higher salt concentration than the sea water it takes in.