resident of the Llanos of Venezuela and possibly Colombia. Some of the Bolivian population is also non-migratory. However, some leave the Llanos de Moxos to breed away in Manú National Park, Peru, and others move almost to along the Río Juruá in western Brazil. The migration pattern of other populations, or lack of it, are not known. The migration of Orinoco geese may spread disease. Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are both apicomplexan parasites that infect various animals and cause severe disease. They thrive in fields where Orinoco geese forage during stopovers during migration. Once birds are infected, they can transmit the parasites to other birds or humans. Orinoco goose meat is eaten by people in Bolivia and Brazil, potentially leading to human infection. Feeding The Orinoco goose is herbivorous and feeds mainly on leaves and seed heads, especially those of grasses. It also feeds on aquatic algae in stagnant water along rivers and oxbows. It mostly forages during the day in open areas near water, although it also forages at night. Individuals move between feeding and resting areas at dawn and dusk. Breeding The Ornico goose's breeding season varies geographically and with rainfall patterns. Populations below the Equator nest between April and November, a mostly dry season. In Venezuela most nest in the July to August wet season though some nest at other times. Orinoco geese nest in both natural and artificial cavities. They use cavities in trees formed by natural causes such as limb loss or rot rather than those created by other cavity nesting species, and may compete with owls and parrots for cavities. There are some reports of nesting on the ground in dense grass but that strategy appears rare. Orinoco geese are sometimes brood parasites, with a female laying eggs in another Orinoco goose's nest. In one study unparasitized nests had a clutch size averaging seven eggs and parasitized ones averaged about 19. Nest success as a percentage of the clutch was higher in parasitized nests. Orinoco geese form strong year-round pair bonds and are intensely territorial during the breeding season. Males guard females during the incubation period. Vocalization The Orinoco goose is very vocal. During the breeding season males make "a high whistle and guttural honks" and females "a loud cackle". Males also make "a shrill-whistled zree and series of hollow reedy whistles" and females "a low guttural honking gu'rump, gur'rump, gur'rump". Both sexes