Duck, Duck, Goose

The geese are nesting this time of year and many anxious Ganders swim next to nests full of eggs and females sitting on them.

Here a gander eyes a teal couple swimming past a nest.

Overnight Heart-break

Sunset Hill Farm Park has seen a number of  goslings  raised over the years. Two years ago there was a long string of goslings swimming on the pond between two parents. We watched them grow throughout the summer until the fall when they took off for other places.

This year there are just a couple of goslings being raised, making them more precious as their young parents watch carefully over them; teaching them to be wary of dangers and where to find the choice bits to eat.

Because there are only a couple of tiny ones to watch grow, it is even so much sadder to find that one of them was lost in a battle of nature against some unknown entity last night. The struggle must have been great, even the parents lost feathers but could not win the battle. In the end the gosling was lost. 

Anxious Fathers

With Mother's Day over and Father's Day heading our way, the spotlight is on the last of the anxious ganders swimming and standing by their women, anxiously awaiting the new arrivals.

Considered a bane today, in some places, I have a different view of Canadians than most, because I can still remember how rare they once were. I love their graceful movements through the water and their noisy celebration of life in general.   

Chance of Goslings Soon

One of the most heart rending moments on my many hikes was when I walked up on a male Canadian Goose standing guard over the body of his dead life long female companion. He showed no fear of me and would not move away from the body.

He remained there for days, standing in silent tribute. True love.

The nesting boxes in the Marsh are full of quiet incubation. Females sit low as the time for hatching nears.

And males stand near by on watch.

Canadian Geese are considered nuisances in some areas of the U.S. I remember when there weren't many. I like to think of them as brown swans; they're just the brown versions from the same family.

I can't wait for the babies to be born.