Excursion

In the cool overcast morning, I saw the compact flotilla silent and smoothly moving as it glided up under the arched bridge over the  channel.  Coming closer and passing where I sat, the array turned into ten goslings in a line with three adult Canadian geese chaperoning. Some of the young birds were down covered and others beginning to fledge, clearly from this years first clutch. They all looked muscular and rangy.

Like a school outing, the grown geese led the gaggle out of the water and onto grassy bank where the goslings nibbled grass here and there as they moved up onto the flat lawn of the little island and out of sight. No gabbling or honking. This was a business-like field-trip.

I'm not a fan of these birds which combine filthy habits with aggressive touchinesss with a propensity for proliferation. Still, the calm demeanour of the escorts was impressive. No wonder these birds are as successful as they are; they teach their young well.

Gooseherds must exploit this kind of organization and discipline when they drive their flocks of dozens or hundreds many miles to market, and the roasting oven.