Canada Geese and the "Urban Bird Time-Share"

On March 19, 2003 - the very morning I heard my first Robin - a pair of Canada Geese appeared perched high up on the roofs of two of the bird houses of my " Urban Bird Time-Share."

My son Dan was visiting and thought they were those life sized geese decoys. He complained that I had gone to a very "tacky" extreme with the old trunk. But they were definitely real! The pair ended up deciding that it would be just the place for them to nest this spring.

Mother Goose, or "M.G." as I ended up calling her, later laid her 6 ivory coloured eggs in the "crook" of the trunk (18' up and directly below one of the miniature fluttering clotheslines). She was completely invisible and private to most passers by. The only tip-off was "Austin" the gander keeping watch as he perched high above on one of the birdhouse roofs.

Canada Geese incubate for 28 days - so to the day, on May 16, 2003 the 6 goslings hatched. It was pretty precious to see the little yellow heads peeping out from so high up.

Only a few hours later that day, the parents encouraged the wee ones to flutter down to the grassy boulevard below. Together they headed down the street to make their way across the busy afternoon traffic of Memorial Drive. I caught up with them and helped them cross and assemble together on the rocky banks of the Bow River.

They set off in a perfect line on the water. The gander looked back at me as I sat watching from the riverbank. I did feel more than blessed to have been a part of these 6 goslings start in life.

They arrived again the following year - exactly 365 days later. Wouldn't I like to have the smarts that "instinct" could give a person!

I have completed a watercolour painting of the Geese nesting in the "Urban Bird Time-Share." In the composition, I have included all kinds of delightful creatures that have used the old trunk (a Nuthatch, Chickadee, Black Squirrel, Downey Woodpecker, butterflies etc.).