Goose Freedom

Yes, much has happened in the last year. Exactly a year if you figure in this was leap year. Teresa and I along with Charlie and Lynda (minus George and Wanda who were advised by Georges doctor not to travel) went on a cruise to Ocean Cay and the Bahamas. When we returned T & I resumed our walking and discovered a Muscovy Duck sitting on a nest. It has been eight weeks and today was the first time I had seen her not on the nest. I could see one egg on the nest and two outside. She went back to it and sat again. Her 28 days are up unless she has recently laid another.
Last week we discovered a goose nest very close to the duck nest. The next day the Gander decides to warn (our Schnauzer) Bogey off. The next day he gets more aggressive and attacks Bogey while the Goose stands and opens her wings to look bigger. Bogey walks on the other side of me like I'm a human shield for a few days. Tuesday this week he rushes out of the water and attacks Bogey and tags me too. Today Bogey rushes the Gander and I get tagged again. This guy is getting vicious about his roll as mate protector. After a big rain yesterday, I discovered two more geese nesting by watching their guardian Gander swim toward me or standing alone he honks a warning. When it's a bit drier I plan to get a little closer to see how these Ganders respond.
On another note, a local Mallard Duck showed up with nine small ducklings. They are growing quite fast. Last Tuesday the daddy joined them for a swim. Today Bogey and I had them come out of the woods and cross in front of us headed into another wooded section. The male duck was all alone in the water we saw them in just two days ago.

It's been a while since I posted anything so it is catch-up time.

In 2022 the golf course had the Department of Natural Resources setup a fence and baited it for several days and then captured all but 18 of the geese on the property. Unfortunately, Luci was one of the captured. I thot maybe she and the others would return after a period of time. But they have not.

So in 2023 I have seen six goslings belonging to a pair and boy are they protective! Walking close by the mama will honk and the little ones scurry to keep up as she heads toward the water. I saw a single goose fly with a few feet of the brood one day and papa did his ducking head thing to ward off the intruder.

I have also discovered my first ever nest. Today I saw papa about a hundred yards away keeping watch over his mate. Returning, I cut at an angle toward the nest. Papa picked up the pace toward the nest as well. I stopped within about 40 yards so as not to disturb mama goose.

Geese are rather protective along with their infamous pecking order. I am still amazed at these creatures after watching for 6 years now.

Goose Freedom

So T and I go for a golf cart ride late yesterday and find some goslings. Eight of them with a single set of parents. That is an unusual site locally. It was magical.

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