However, the presence of a close social partner, like a parent or sibling, may reduce the stress caused by the social environment. This phenomenon is called social support and has beneficial effects on health.
Among birds, many goose species are highly social and can be used as model species when doing research about social interactions. Graylag geese, for instance, live in big flocks for most of the year and pair-partners (male and female) usually stay together for several years, similar to the way humans form couples. Paired birds often stay close to each other during the day no matter what they are doing, for example feeding or resting. Also, after short separations, or simply when they get excited (when other geese are fighting, for example) they greet each other to show that they belong together. Furthermore, graylag geese have strong family bonds and goslings stay close to their parents until the next breeding season.
In general, whether geese have offspring or not plays a major role in their social relationships within the flock. In fact, we know that families tend to win against pairs without goslings in aggressive encounters, and pairs will win in encounters with single, unpaired, birds.

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