Dear Mr. Goose
Typically I am ignoring you but finally Allegany State Park is quit again . . . . and well, I am also a little bored. Everyone is back to work and the kids are in school learning things. Swimmers are not running around barefoot on the beach . . . . but I still would like you to stop pooping everywhere (that’s just nauseating). Right now it is just you and me my friend hanging around Red House Beach. Those warblers are too high up in the trees for me to photograph, although I can hear them calling down to me. Mr. Goose, I have a confession to make. . . . I love taking pictures of birds and you’re all I have today . . . . I am sorry that I caught you preening your feathers . . . . I could have waited until you were done prettying yourself up for the camera.
Canada Goose Preening Its Feathers
I guess you are really not that disgusting of a bird as I accuse you of being. I do enjoy taking your picture when no one is looking. Why must you be such a nuisance bird? You never acted this way 15 years ago? Why can’t you just be a visitor during your migration south?? My job now requires me to chase you away but it is your lucky day . . . . I am off duty right now. Good visiting and I just know that I will be seeing you sooner than later.
Sincerely,
Tom
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
Beautiful photos, Tom!!!!! But, alas, they are a menace in various areas around here, too. Pooping all over the place. I even saw them at Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua for the first time this year. I love your new header!
9 September 2007 at 8:07 pm
Pam – they are a menace for sure! Thanks regarding the header! The last one I had got old fast! I did like it when I first posted it though! I think this one will keep me happy for a while.
9 September 2007 at 8:12 pm
Tom, I share your sentiments. But I did find them sweet to photograph a few months ago. I loved they way you wrote the letter to Dear Mr. Goose :o)
They are everywhere here. Year round.
9 September 2007 at 8:34 pm
Love the header as well Tom, nice shots, I am indifferent to geese. Just as long as they poop some where else!!
9 September 2007 at 8:41 pm
You get paid to chase geese? That’s pretty funny.
9 September 2007 at 9:49 pm
They really are lovely birds to look at. When my daughters were little they were thrilled with the “ducks and geese” at the park. That included Mallards and Canada Geese exclusively. They leave more mess than dogs! I wonder when their protected status will end here in Canada. Our municipality spend thousands of dollars relocating them from the downtown area, and then they came back.
9 September 2007 at 10:08 pm
My oldest son was bit once by a rather mean goose. But they are pretty. nita
9 September 2007 at 11:21 pm
Great blog 🙂 (also I’m repeating myself but excellent shots as well…..)
10 September 2007 at 12:55 am
@ Mary – thanks and the only reason they are not year round here is that the water freezes over, which forces them south.
@ Bernie – thanks and doesn’t it seem like its everywhere?
@ Barb – have you seen how much poop comes out of them?
@ Ruth – Great point that these birds are protected under the migratory bird act. But many efforts are expensive and unless you continue your efforts they come back.
@ Nita – thanks and they do have one heck of a bite!
@ aullori – thanks and thanks!
10 September 2007 at 7:04 am
One of the real problems is that some of the flocks are not migratory. Many places like Dunkirk, NY, Grove City, PA, and other places thah might have open water have permanent flocks. It is way past time to remove the protection from this species. At least for non-migratory flocks.
10 September 2007 at 2:05 pm
Such sweet photos, Tom ~ gorgeous geese! I was just reading something about the lessons we can learn from geese. (I hope you don’t mind if I c&p)
Note: “Lessons from Geese” was transcribed from a speech given by Angeles Arrien at the 1991 Organizational Development Network and was based on the work of Milton Olson. It circulated to Outward Bound staff throughout the United States.
—
FACT 1:
As each goose flaps its wings it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
LESSON:
People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
FACT 2:
When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
LESSON:
If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.
FACT 3:
When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies to the point position.
LESSON:
It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other’s skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.
FACT 4:
The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
LESSON:
We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one’s heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.
FACT 5:
When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
LESSON:
If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.
—
10 September 2007 at 3:50 pm
I’m sure the geese find themselves to be perfectly fine and cool birds. They probably waddle around grousing about humans.
10 September 2007 at 4:44 pm
I like Canada geese.-They sure can make a mess at rimes, but they’re still beautiful. Nice photos too!
10 September 2007 at 6:52 pm
@ Mike – depends on what your definition of migratory is! When Red House Lake Freezes over, they have to migrate somewhere! Even if that means they are moving 40 miles south to open water.
@ Lisa – that is great and just glad to have you sharing such great stuff!
@ Robin – They always are for sure! Thanks
@ Larry – thanks!
10 September 2007 at 11:17 pm
well here I am most likely the last to post again.
I still think they are beautiful birds.
We had a customer come into the gallery yesterday with photos they took of a mom and dad Canada geese trying to get their babies into the water. they did look adorable.
My son lives in Delaware on the fly zone where they migrate to for winter. he said the sky was like a black cloud coming in and landing in a field near the school where he teaches. he got excited at the site but others who have lived there just grumbled and looked forward to geese hunting days.
11 September 2007 at 6:43 am
When I started working at Allegany, the geese didn’t stay all summer. We saw them during migration, and a few rested on the lakes, then left to continue their flight. They were a sign of the changing seasons, a welcome sign in the spring. We liked them better then.
11 September 2007 at 6:00 pm
The Canada geese are a huge problem for some folks here in Rochester too. I have seen small groups of them heading south for the past several evenings….probably they have heard the rumors of another early goose hunting season to try and pare down their numbers.
Personally, I find them fascinating, but I guess it’s because I don’t have them living near me.
11 September 2007 at 9:31 pm
@ Toni – I bet they were cute for sure! Awww! We are already in early goose season!
@ Grace – those were the days those goose were liked by everyone!
@ Ruth – thanks and they are problems everywhere! We are already open for early goose season but still doesn’t make a difference!
11 September 2007 at 9:38 pm