Canada Geese | Walking with Geese One day my great dane mix, Margarita, and I took a walk along the river near our house. We went to a nearby overlook and climbed down to the shoreline. As we walked under a concrete bridge, some Canada Geese (hanging out on the water) set up a ruckus -- intruders in their midst! We passed by them and kept going to a rocky "beach" past the bridge. I decided to sit for a few minutes and be still. The geese were very active, honking to each other and "side swimming" (floating down the river with their bodies at a 90 degree angle to the current) back by the bridge. I was enjoying the loveliness of their bird-like antics, and being in their company. After a few minutes, one goose (a female with a slightly shorter neck?) began to venture cautiously in our direction. She would not look directly at us, kept looking everywhere BUT at us, but was inching slowly ever closer. Within a short time the whole flock, about 25 or so, decided we weren't that much of a threat, and worked their way to within 20-30 feet of us (remaining in the water). While the others were busy diving, flapping, honking, chasing each other, etc., the one goose was just interested in being close. She stayed about 10 feet away, maintaining her distance despite the rushing current. It seemed almost as if she were as curious about us as we were about her! (Throughout this experience, Margarita was very well-behaved, just standing still on her leash.) | I finally decided it was time to go, so we headed back along the shoreline, crossing under the bridge. As we emerged from the bridge, I realized the geese were following us! They were swimming at a safe distance (about 20-30 feet behind), but at the same speed as we were walking. We were "walking" together! At one point beyond the bridge, they stopped at a shoal, and I thought, "Oh, that's it -- I guess it's over." But as we continued walking, about 15 of them left the shoal and followed us. Farther down, we had to go inland to cross Gilbert Creek, which joins the river at that point; where it meets the river, it is too wide to cross. As we headed out of sight toward the crossing spot, I could hear the geese honking and screaming! Perhaps they met some other geese, I thought. We crossed over the creek and headed back down to the shoreline. There they were, gathered together at the mouth of the creek, waiting for us! As we continued walking along the bank in the direction of our house, the geese continued to accompany us. They swam purposefully, necks forward, with some mild honking; none of the "side swimming" they often do when floating lazily in the current. Before long they were beside us and began to move ahead. Since there are geese all along the river, I assumed that they were now heading off on their own adventure, to join some other geese. Margarita and I continued until we came to the rocky beach that is our "stopping place," the point at which we climb back up to the road where we live. (The distance from the bridge to our house is about 1/2 mile). We stopped at the beach, and of course, the geese were already there, and passing on by...but lo and behold, once they figured out that we had stopped, they stopped, too (and the ones who had swum on ahead came back). We all just hung out together for a moment, and I thanked them for the wonderful walk. When they realized we were no longer walking, they looked a bit confused, like they weren't sure whether to go back, or keep going; different ones were turning in different directions, as if trying to make up their minds. But eventually they decided to keep going down the river. This was a very special experience that I will never forget. A dog, a woman and 15 geese, out for a joint swim/walk. May the wonders of nature never cease! Susan Hunt |
