Bird Bath?
Wash Cycle1
By: Pat Coate
Note: I started posting weekly to Tom’s blog about 1 year ago – this was my first. I decided to celebrate my ‘anniversary’ by taking the week off and re-publishing this first posting – still one of my favorites.
I recently got to spend some time in Allegany State Park and had the pleasure of watching some fun behavior within a flock of about 25 Canada geese. It was a Sunday and it appeared to be bathing day. First, the geese would flip themselves upside down.
Wash Cycle2
And I mean totally upside down. Be sure to notice Tom and company’s handiwork on the bird’s left foot.
Rinse Cycle
Then the goose would right itself, splash some water and preen.
Drying Cycle
Flapping of the wings would follow in the drying cycle.
It feels good to be clean
Finally, some R&R after all that hard work. Until…..
Bother, bother, bother
Occasionally one goose would bother another, seeming to charge it with its neck fully extended. And, evidently, with its tongue extended too.
Canada Goose footprint
These were all over the beach area at Red House Lake.
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Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
Cute!! Nice series of photos, some of them unique. I’ve never seen a Canada goose upsidedown.
1 April 2010 at 9:43 am