A new resident goose nested on the island – I’m reasonably certain that she hatched on the island, since she has been kind of bossy to her gander – so if I’m right, we have another batch of grand-goslings of the old goose and gander. Families develop relationships – and the new gander was embarrassed when I walked off the hill and he had to hustle to get between the nesting goose and my path.
So it’s time to start watching the pond for small birds – first the goslings, and then we’ll get the little diving ducks again. So far, I haven’t seen any coots nesting – I have hopes we’ll get the adults back that hung out with gander and his consort during his last Summer. Canada Geese occasionally adopt other goose shaped birds – and it must have been frustrating to work at getting Lesser Canadian family responsibility into four little coots. Last year we had a pair of coots who successfully raised five little ones – so it looks like nurture overcame nature.
At any rate, the little birds are on the pond, and I expect traffic to slow down so the neighbors can watch. It is good to have Spring back again, and the little birds hatching.
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