More Nature
There were only five Canada geese on the pond when we returned to Vermont two weeks ago. Since in past years there have sometimes been dozens, we were thrilled. We reckon this pond will sustain maybe ten. More than that become a problem. The big question was whether the game warden had searched for and shaken any of their eggs. In an attempt to curb the population explosion, they shake the eggs (or some of them) which keeps them from developing but the bird continues to sit on them and doesn't lay any more.
Two days ago we spotted goslings; first a family of 7, then one of 5, meaning an addtional 12 birds on the pond. The odd adult may be one whose mate was killed or lost. I have not learned to tell male from female and don't know which the lone adult is. Yesterday the 5 were down to 4. I have heard the turtles sometimes kill them, though I thought tutrtles were plant eaters. They do cross the road and are in danger of being hit.
Cosmos, our terrier, chases the adults off our field back onto the pond. They are much larger and no doubt tougher than he is, but they do return to the pond when he comes running and yelping. We first warn them off the field when the babies are tiny, for fear that he might catch one and/or the adults might do him in if he got close. They grow fast and within a week or two they will be able to get onto the pond fast enough to evade him.
At my best I understand all this as my being a part of the local ecosystem. When the geese first began nesting by the pond, I thought we would get rid of them, that they were a temporary phenomenon. Amazing how fast they went from being a romantic subject for movies and tourists, to pests. But I went right along with the culture, wanting to figure out how to keep them away.
I have failed. And I am rather glad. I wonder if they look up at our house, hovering over the pond, and wonder how long they will have to put up with us?
Two days ago we spotted goslings; first a family of 7, then one of 5, meaning an addtional 12 birds on the pond. The odd adult may be one whose mate was killed or lost. I have not learned to tell male from female and don't know which the lone adult is. Yesterday the 5 were down to 4. I have heard the turtles sometimes kill them, though I thought tutrtles were plant eaters. They do cross the road and are in danger of being hit.
Cosmos, our terrier, chases the adults off our field back onto the pond. They are much larger and no doubt tougher than he is, but they do return to the pond when he comes running and yelping. We first warn them off the field when the babies are tiny, for fear that he might catch one and/or the adults might do him in if he got close. They grow fast and within a week or two they will be able to get onto the pond fast enough to evade him.
At my best I understand all this as my being a part of the local ecosystem. When the geese first began nesting by the pond, I thought we would get rid of them, that they were a temporary phenomenon. Amazing how fast they went from being a romantic subject for movies and tourists, to pests. But I went right along with the culture, wanting to figure out how to keep them away.
I have failed. And I am rather glad. I wonder if they look up at our house, hovering over the pond, and wonder how long they will have to put up with us?
posted by Blayney at 12:45 AM
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