C is for Canada geese…or is
it Canadian geese? And also Cowbirds
First of all I have to admit I used to call these large
birds Canadian geese when I do know that the actual name is Canada geese. I think they were migratory but as of
the last few years, they are pretty much a year long resident of Virginia and its
waterways. It is not uncommon to
hear the honking overhead as flocks of them travel from one pond, lake or river
to another.
They can be problematic, however, since many airports are
around rivers. In fact National
Airport is right next to the Potomac River. They have tried all sorts of things to keep them from flying
too near the planes taking off, but that is not always possible. Usually the damage is not excessive but
just last week they did have to change an engine due to a bird strike. (My hubby works for a major
airline)
As technology and nature try and work out a viable
relationship, I sit outside on my deck and listen to the geese. They are truly beautiful
creatures. Lively, in their family
groups because Canada geese mate for life.
C is for Canada, Candian, or whichever geese you decide.
I had the C entry post for my ABC book of nature all set. And then this morning while checking
the blooms on my lilies of the valley I saw a little cowbird amidst the plants.
He didn’t appear to be hurt and eagerly jumped on my finger. So I put him on a nearby branch so that
no neighborhood cats would get him.
As of this writing he is still sitting there.
Cowbirds have two defining habits. One is that they are nest parasites. These birds lay they eggs in the nests
of other birds and since they are bigger and mature quicker, the other chicks in
the nest sometimes starve. The
other is that they eat the insects off of cows helping the cow to be more
comfortable, hence the name cowbirds.
So they are yin and yang, good and bad depending upon which habit you
are looking at. I hope this little
guy survives.
