ADAPTABILITY

When it comes to adapting, we humans rank high on the list, maybe even the top tier. Often, we are assisted by technology of some sort. This is especially true of adapting to various physical environments. However, we don’t always fare well when it comes to psychological changes (there is plenty here to evaluate, but not in this post).

There is a common flying bird in our region which is extremely adaptable to the environment. This fowl is the Canadian Goose. She has little to no fear of people or vehicles or even dogs.

Recently, while on an errand, we stopped at a local department store called KOHL’S. To our astonishment, there was a mother goose resting in a mulch bed less than twenty feet from the main doors where hundreds of people pass by every day. What was she doing there?

Nesting, of course !

She didn’t flinch when we stopped to gawk at her and her four eggs. Glad the male wasn’t around or he would have tried to run us off…they can be a bit cantankerous.

Ten days later we stopped by the same store and she was still there nesting. The only difference was found beneath her. No longer eggs, but four developing goslings !

Go figure, we didn’t know this store even had birds !

“Live and learn”, never gets old.

Come Along Children

Geese 5-11-15 009Geese 5-11-15 012Geese 5-11-15 017Geese 5-11-15 021Goslings closely follow mom and pop until they can fend for themselves. They are fun to watch marching in single file. Most birds exhibit a similar behavior when they are young. These geese made their home in a field adjacent to our parking lot. Caution: don’t get too close or the parents will become offensive. They stretch out their necks, charge you, and hiss with beaks wide open. It is actually a bit intimidating! These Canadian geese are found all over our city and have become quite the nuisance when on the ground. They defecate everywhere, block traffic in parking lots and streets alike, and are slow to move out of the way. They have adapted well to urban life. However, when in the air they are a joy to watch as they communicate with loud honking, and take turns blocking the headwinds by changing places at the point of their V-formation. Landings and takeoffs are especially enjoyable to witness because these large birds are so graceful. A flock landing in unison is a beautiful sight to behold….along with all that honking! Here are a few facts: these geese can live up to 24 years in the wild, weigh up to 20 pounds, develop wingspans over 5 feet, have excellent eyesight, mate for life, and can be found in all 48 contiguous states of America, as well as in Alaska. Oh, yes, they can be found in Canada, too. Ha!