Tuesday, January 25, 2011

The Last Goose of Fall of the Vermilon River. A Post to World Bird Wednesday.





While hiking out the east track in late November, I startled this fellow hiding at the base of the elevated track in the south pond. He was not at all happy with my intrusion and I was treated to a rather loud series of honks, which echoed around the pond. But I did get some good photos.
Just an aside; I shoot at least every second day and this tends to build up a back log of memory cards which sometimes makes me feel as if I'm back in school and have not completed my assignments on time. That's why I post summer or fall scenes in the middle or at the tail end of winter. In addition, I shoot a series of photos so I don't have many individual shots, and I sometimes post more than one post with the same bird, animal or scene. In addition I'm now taking photos of landscapes, skies etc.; so my interests are expanding. This usually means I'm immersed in books dealing with the subject. And it places more pressure on me to process the memory cards. Just a truant schoolboy, I simply grab Boom and we go out more often filling up more cards.
Canada Geese have grown to become a nuisance bird in some areas but here in Boom's and  my forest they're still wild. Also negative aspects about an animal/bird tend to be handed on and most times lack any validity, so I find it interesting to use the web to find out information or scientific up dates.
Here are some facts about Canada Geese:
1)The V they migrate in means the followers can ride the slipstream of the leaders. It also makes for ease of communication, and they do communicate having some 13 different sounds.
2) They mate for life and the goslings remain with their parents for 1 year. The V is usually then made up of families of Geese and can fly up to 1000 km in a day.
3) Males and females are identical in looks.

For further info, see http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=35

Here's one more fact. In Canada, we have a public radio network which broadcasts some junk usually the local stuff, but on the national level it's quite good. It runs a program called Quirks and Quarks on Saturday, which is a science update and the host interviews research scientists from around the world. It updates old crocks like me on what's happening. This Saturday he interviewed a climatologist whose team had built a computer model of global warming. The model indicates that even if we can slow carbon emissions, the effect of the current and past years will cause global warming well into 3000. I know there will be detractors but even if it's wrong by + or - 10% the normal error factor, the news is scary, and I'm ashamed to hand on an earth so contaminated to future generations. You can hear the radio program @ www. cbc.ca. Then click on radio and click on Quirks and Quarks to get the show index.

A Post to World Bird Wednesday @ http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/

34 comments:

  1. Gosh Gary,
    So many things to comment on from this post. I'll pick one. I think this blog stuff is nothing more than scrap-booking, a journal of things thought and seen. It has a grand tradition as observers of the world let the muse speak to them through words and photographs. It takes a lot of time to do this and a steadfastness of purpose. You know, your one of the best at it.

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  2. A nice post Gary. We have Canada Geese over in the UK that don't migrate any more and have made this little island their home. The kids love to feed these big ducks at my local nature reserve. Lovely images and I look forward to see more of your landscape shots.

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  3. Some interesting facts there Gary about the Canada Geese. Like Andrew says, we have a lot here, in this country. Some people see them as a pest; I see them as great birds. Such social birds.

    And your comments at the end re global warming; I think the human race should be ashamed of itself, the way it is desecrating this planet, and its wildlife inhabitants. Nature will take control in the end.

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  4. Hi Andrew. Thanks for the visit. As far as landscapes go it's been -41 C or F up until today, so you may have to wait for a time.

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  5. Hi Springman. I think it's more important to drive home to people the series condition that we're in, in a way that warns them that what their kids inherit is directly their fault.There is no cop out this time around.

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  6. Hi Keith. I can't believe your idiot government, that like ours is a minority government, thinks it has the right to do anything without checking with the people first. You cut Sherwood,Dean,and next it'll be the New Forest. Those trees hold carbon and support wildlife.And those forest are a national trust.

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  7. Totally agree Gary. The 'people' can only take so much.

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  8. Hi Gary, great photos of the Canada Geese. Over here in Australia it's the imported plants and animals and birds that cause the biggest problems. When we take things out of their natural habitat we must expect problems.
    re all your photos - I use my photos for a kind of diary. Very few photos go on my blog but looking back on all the archived folders I have a record of what is happening around this area.

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  9. It is a handsome goose, and glad to know it's still wild! Here they are so tame and considered a nuisance despoiling golf courses and parks with their droppings. Some have started to use border collies to keep them off. In terms of photos, wouldn't it be easiest to download them right away to your computer into a archiving program? Often one is included when you buy a digital camera. Once you have them downloaded the next step is to go through them right away and delete the ones that are not worth saving - for me it's usually for every one I save I throw out 10 or more, and if I don't do it right away I'd get hopelessly behind. Next step: reformat the memory card, and then you can start all over again. Just a suggestion.

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  10. Such social birds they have learned to use what we have given them, and then they get a bad rap for it...seems very unfair to me..BUT Im like you I love them...never get tired of photograhing them they are so amusing to watch and Ive never seen a bad photo of one, they are so photogenic dont you think? I hope the ones coming along behind us can do better than we have done as stewards of this Planet.

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  11. Hi Mick. I listen to Austrlian public brodcasting in the morning, and I know you have a problem with almost imported anything. I treat my blog as a photo journal so most of my photos eventually end up on the blog, and in a slide show I send out to local retirees who enjoy the photos of their area. Once used I store my photos on an external hard drive and on DVD or CD discs. Sometimes I store the finished photos on the external hard drive, and then retrieve them for posting.Because I'm retired and have so many trails to hike I think I just take a lot of usable pics.

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  12. Hi Hilke. I edit too although usually on camera getting rid of what I don't like. I think my volume of photos is high. Remember I don't drive anywhere, I am in the woods form the first step. I have PSE set up to take the camera upload. I don't use the Nikon Program as it is just inferior to PSE. I'm surprised that anyone would use a border collie on Geese as Geese can really look after themselves and the yearlings will fight a rear guard action while the older geese escort the goslings to water.

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  13. Your Canada Goose is superb, its nice and friendly.

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  14. Hi Dixxe. Thanks for the visit, and yes I think they're handsome. And no I think the next generation is receiving a situation that they're not equipped to deal with.And the negative situation is a "fait accompli".

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  15. Hi Bob. Thanks for the visit and kind words.

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  16. Good facts Gary. We have 100's here, and even though they can be pests, I still find myself taking lots of pictures of them, and those babies are so darn cute.
    B.

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  17. Another wonderful post, Gary. Informative and superb pics of what looks to be a very cold goose.

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  18. An intriguing post generating a fascinating series of comments too! Enjoyed how your photos focus on plumage detail from behind the bird!

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  19. Nice shot of the Canada Goose---even if you did startle him. They can give one a dressing down that is for sure.
    Good info on the Goose and scary info on the other. MB

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  20. A very interesting post nice photos.

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  21. Hi B&G. I think if your an urban dweller that's the case.But in the forest the predators keep the flocks down. But they're beautiful creatures.

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  22. Hi Sally. I'm glad you enjoyed the post!!!

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  23. That's the way he was facing GrayScale. I'd have drowned if I tried for any front shots. Glad you enjoyed the post.

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  24. Hi SCS. They are beauties though. I think the frustrating thing about global warming is the politicians with their heads in the sand or the common smoke screen of catering to the economy. The former head of the IMF, an economist, said if we don't do something there won't be an economy to worry about.

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  25. Hi Neil. Thanks for the visit. To anyone reviewing these comments check out Neil's site by clicking on his picture to see the flooding in Queensland, Australia. The flooding is of course not restricted to Australia, but is typical of global warming.

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  26. Great post- love the photos and the information!

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  27. Thanks EmptyNester. The Canada Goose is a beautiful aquatic bird.

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  28. that guy has a huge neck! He's a handsome Canada! There's a pair at my parent's house that forages in the same exact tiny area (like 5 feet by 5 feet) every day - it's kind of funny. they're really attached to that particular spot I guess. (i get photo backlogs too!)

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  29. Gary, I am always learning something from your posts! Canadian Geese are tame at our local parks. They have added signs asking not to feed any wildlife but it goes unheeded.
    I will check out the radio show. I worry about what the future holds for our planet...also.

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  30. Just get some more external Harddrives.
    My archives are now past 100.000 files and I have deleted in between. But like you, I am out too often ;)
    Then I made my blog crash,... change of servers and not the correct preparation. So all my blog data is lost. I now just blog and have fun and don't worry from when the shots are, I just have to build up my 'reference book' again :/
    So, don't worry, post what you like to post, I bet you we will all love what we see :)

    Thanks also for the Info. Goose are a whole new ball game for me, since I don't see many.
    I like the tones of this fellow and the shots are fantastic!

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  31. Hi Jean. Hope you found the radio show OK.

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  32. To NicoleB. These guys are real survivors, and have moved around the world so just hold your breath and you may see one.

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  33. Thanks for this information. Geese are so lovely xD
    Regards,
    Bianca from Romania

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  34. Hi New Sensations and welcome back.

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