There has been a lot of goose watching lately, by the humans on the swake and Kanti. We have been observing how their feathers change from week to week preparing them for the next adventure of their lives, and we have been witnessing the value of community. They are growing so quickly. We actually wondered this week if they had moved on because we hadn't seen them for a day or two.
Kanti is a little perplexed by the goose families as they totally disappear these days for hours at a time only to suddenly materialize on the banks of the swake in a gaggle. She is undecided about how ferocious she needs to sound, which makes it kind of amusing. Sometimes a soft gruff harumf is the only sound she makes and then the next time she is racing around barking her biggest German Shepherd bark while her tail merrily waves in the wind.
The goose parents continue their vigil, overseeing the excursions with great diligence. They are also staying in a large group with other families when they come on shore now. I imagine this is a 'there is safety in numbers' strategy. Not a bad idea given the proximity of the howling coyotes.
We haven't had opportunity to watch for long periods of time. But maybe over the years we'll get to do that. I'd like to discover whether the adult gees only watch out for their own or whether they take the community approach to gosling rearing. While the geese are sticking close to their young, the deer have fawned and pushed last year's young out into the harsh world of living on their own. I have this on the fine advice of my resident Animal Tracker. Consequently, we have witnessed a young deer wandering alone many times this week. Poor thing looks a bit lost and confused especially when Kanti spots it and raises a ruckus. Hopefully the deer have been equipped with enough life skills to live a while.
Tonight the humans are going live it up with the first official party on the swake to thank those who felled trees, loaned equipment, assisted in the move, and all the other volunteerism that helped us through the house-build. For once the human community on the swake will outnumber the geese!
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