Canada Goose on Ice (Wakamow Park)

A Canada Goose exploring that magical time — out of winter, but not quite spring, when rivers are frozen or maybe melt  — or maybe that's all an illusion.

These geese seem like year-round residents here. Yes, many Canada Geese fly south, and their Vs in spring and fall skies are impressive, as is the noise they make when they honk overhead on their flight. But some remain resident, always here, feasting on park and farmland, even in winter.

What is this? A Canada Goose.    
Location: Along the Wakamow (Moose Jaw River), in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, 
Photo dates: March 17, 2012. 

~~~~~

Canada Goose — Eight Goslings in her Wings

Wascana Park, Regina, SK: While other Canada geese ran away from leashed dogs, and after excited children with pieces of bread, one goose nestled on the shore of Wascana Lake and sheltered eight large goslings under her wings. Her mate stood guard beside her.

Canada geese with goslings sheltered under wings. © SB 

It was a cold afternoon, and the goslings may have been seeking a warm place, more than a hiding place.

One gosling that had been away with the mass of teenage birds on the beach, fearlessly scrounging bits to eat, ran back and joined the group before these first two pictures here were taken.

The mother tipped a wing, and the young one clambered under her feathers. (Before that gosling arrived, all young heads had lifted when she hissed at another goose that came too near. See bottom image. I counted; there were at least seven before the last one climbed in.)

These goslings looked silky soft, more like puppies or seals (or penguins!) than awkward, angular, adult Canada geese.

Here's a close-up of the little ones under her wings:

At least eight goslings under this Canada goose's wings. © SB

~~~~~

These birds on the beach reminded me of a Psalm — and I realized, hardly for the first time — how male-centric the language in the Bible is... so I have amended the line below to the proper female spirit:

"She will cover you with her feathers, and under her wings you will find refuge."  Psalm 91: 4, New International Version, with gender-appropriate fix.

~~~~~ 

Count the goslings! I can see seven, but there might another © SB

Earlier, when an approaching goose had alarmed her, she had stretched out her neck and loudly hissed. The goslings, clearly misunderstanding that she was reacting to signs of approaching danger, all popped up their heads to see what was going on. As soon as she calmed down, they nestled back to sleep. (The two pix above were taken after this and have one more young bird under her wings.)

~~~~~

Fewer Goslings to be Seen in Wascana?

The local paper reports there will be "significantly fewer"#1 goslings in Wascana Park this summer. Perhaps so, but the ones I saw this afternoon remain significantly cute.#2

Geese take turns on guard duty while goslings feed. © SB

#1: The Leader Post said today that the late snow melt and heavy flooded delayed and destroyed many nests along the banks of the Wascana Lake and on Goose Island, a major breeding area. (I'd no idea where GI was until I checked Google maps; clearly, it's not someplace you can stroll over to.) On April 6 last year, the paper said, there 35 goose nests on the island; this year on that same date, no nests because there was a foot of snow — and then the banks flooded.

#2: These Canada geese know where the easy food is. And so the largest cluster on the lakeshore is beside the most popular parking lot. I couldn't sort out the families, and the cheeping babies ranged dramatically in size.

My copy of Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable says when people use the phrase "silly goose" it's because of "the alleged stupidity of this bird"; but these birds are actually very alert and very canny.

And, significantly cute.

~~~~~

Overheard: 

Girl on bicycle, to friend cycling behind her: "Look! They're so tiny, but they still have wings!"

(Silly goose!)

Several families of geese and goslings peck for food in sand. © SB  

~~~~~

     

~~~~~