April 18th, 2007
some geese have no imagination
This was the scene in the field across the road earlier today. A small flock of geese swimming in a row down a narrow creek. Unfortunately, it seems that some geese have no imagination and can’t play along with the illusion. As you can see, it’s just a puddle and not a creek.
Last weekend, we spent part of Sunday afternoon checking out my route for the Marsh Montoring Program. I was given a list of coordinates where monitoring was done about a decade ago. Of course, things change, so I wasn’t sure what we’d find. As it turned out, I was in for a bit of a surprise as the stations turned out to be located offshore and must have been surveyed by canoe. That wouldn’t be a problem, except that the situation on this river has changed a lot in a decade. I used to paddle around in that area, but these days, I don’t bother as the power boat traffic is just too heavy.
So, we did a bit of reconnaissance and found a few good spots suitable for monitoring stations, and checked back with the coordinator. We’ll be going with those stations and will probably make the rounds to set them up this coming weekend in readiness for the first night of amphibian call monitoring. I expect frog call activity to pick up fairly soon. After weeks of cool, snowy, rainy weather, the sun broke through the clouds this morning and the temperature soared to a balmy 12C (54F). In between putting clothes out on the line to dry, I’ve been out for two walks around the farm so far today. The woods are filled with birdsong — the most persistent of all being the male cardinal who hangs out in our garden. I can hear him almost everywhere I go around the front of the farm. I doubt there’s any bird that doesn’t know where his territory is by now!
April 18th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
“Some geese have no imagination.” I don’t think you need that “Some”.
I had a small homestead-type farm up north, once upon a time, a “hobby farm”, they call them, but it was no hobby; it provided most of the food for my family. Goats and pigs and chickens and rabbits, a horse, cats and dogs. And three geese, the domestic variety.
We had had a long, dry summer, and my boys had dug a deep hole beside the lower garden, looking for water for watering. The rains had finally come, and filled it, almost to the brim. I was watching one afternoon as the geese came down across the fields, queued up as usual. The first one fell in the hole. Great squawking and flapping as she struggled to get out the slippery far side. The other two stood waiting.
She finally made it. Then goose number 2 stepped out, and fell in the hole. Squawk! Flap-flap-flap! And so on. Out the other side, although with more difficulty, since the first one had wet it down.
Goose number 3? Straight into the hole. Silly geese.
April 18th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Hehe, I would have been convinced if not for the one. Consider it a statement :-)
April 18th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
I have to admit after watching birds for the past few years, I’ve come to the sorry conclusion that their brains really are very, very small.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
Now waaait a minute! Maybe that goose is walking on water! Sheesh. Ye of little faith :0D
That’s really something when 54′ feels balmy. I so understand.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
How is it that it’s warmer in Ontario than Pennsylvania? Not fair!
April 19th, 2007 at 7:55 am
Susannah – We used to keep geese and they never struck me as particularly bright. We had very little success with them hatching young as they would not nest in the barn — they would go out to a haystack that was sheltered by a tarpaulin and lay their eggs in various places on the pile, and then seem to forget about them. I kept finding rotten goose eggs for the next few months!
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Peter – lol.. I will!
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robin – I believe you’re correct, although some birds do seem a lot brighter than others. I often think that Chickadees seem a little smarter than the rest — or perhaps, not smarter, but they possess a lot of savvy!
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Cathy – Yes, maybe that’s what’s going on! Yes, 54 felt really *warm* and it supposed to go to around 70F this weekend. WhooHooo!!!! (-:
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Dave – So, it’s still cool down there? Well, it looks like we due for a real hot spell over the next few days. Gotta tell ya — I can’t wait!