Geese

October 30, 1999

Geese

Mr. and Mrs. Canada Goose are back in residence at the first pond. To get to our house you must leave the paved road, pass a No Trespassing sign, pass the first golf course pond and continue on the gravel, up hill and over bumps, for another mile. The first pond is fed by the upper pond. Between the two there is a wide bank, and from this bank there juts a tiny peninsula, which, it turns out, is a safe place for a nest. At this time of the year, other geese are allowed to stop off on their way south, but not to stay. We are on the east coast fly way, and also close to a major wild life refuge. The resident couple does not migrate. In very early spring or late winter, Mrs. G starts the new family, laying one egg a day for 30 days. When the nest is full she stays on it except for a quick dip. She turns the eggs every day, and dampens them after her daily dip.

From 1 to 6 goslings have hatched in each of the five years they have lived at this pond. Mr. G is eternally vigilant. One year a single parent turned up with a single gosling. He (?) was allowed to join the group, a little closer each day, until finally integrated. The single parent had to watch from a certain distance. One day I noticed Mrs. G had assembled the group at the edge of the pond and was giving instruction in washing, preening feathers, etc. Each gosling copied each motion perfectly. Each year, when the goslings have reached about half of adult size, other geese are allowed to start visiting again. One pair of mallards is tolerated during nesting and gosling-raising. Mr. G does not have to drive the other geese away. They just stop coming when nesting starts, and stay away until a certain moment.

I didn't learn all this just watching. When we had settled on moving, I was so excited about having space all our own that I ordered a pair of geese before the great day, to be delivered soon after. We found practice eggs in the brook that first summer, We learned about goose territory rights. Unfortunately the geese decided that the front porch would make a nice home. Geese have extremely active digestive systems. When it was nesting time they found the only place on our 4 acres where snow never reaches, under a small porch, between stone wall supports. After all that patience, and egg turning, and guarding, they hatched one gosling. It was impressive to watch these two monster birds walking one on either side of this tiny fluffy creature. One day I looked out an upstairs window and saw the cat sneaking up on the gosling, with obvious intent to eat. I rushed downstairs. Just as I opened the door, father goose grabbed the cat by the neck and flung it about ten feet through the air. It takes a lot to make a cat respectful, but that did it.

Some other disaster befell the gosling. We grew weary of cleaning the front porch, and took the geese off to the weekly farm auction. We weren't interested in eating them after so long an acquaintance.

Years later my computer suddenly went black and we found that another goose had flown straight into the power line, and dropped straight down, dead. We ate that one. A goose has a lot of feathers. A goose is an amazing navigator and a wondrous flying machine. Machines are not good to eat. We have never felt any urge to cook another goose, but I still stop to watch as I pass the first pond.