Squabbling Geese
The geese are squabbling. I can see them out the window from my "chat room".
Apparently the creek isn't big enough for two pair.
A couple of years ago, the beavers built a formidable dam on the creek and ever since, during the spring melt, the creek ponds right in front of our house. It couldn't be more perfect if we had contracted them to do it. In fact, that year I went around to our country neighbours with a gift of flowers and begged them not to blow up the beavers' dam. They're a nuisance to the farmers but we like what they do.
For the next 2-3 months we'll be treated to an variety of waterfowl that come to use the creek. Nesting Canada geese, ducks of all kinds, teal, the occasional kingfisher and the busy beavers who like to swim up and down the creek around twilight. They look so small in the water with only tiny noses and heads poking out. But when they land they are huge lumbering creatures. Our hillside is dotted with pointy stumps, evidence of their summer activity. Hans had to wind chicken wire around those trees we'd like to keep, and the rest are available to them.
I see little chickadees outside too. There's a pair sitting in front of our two birdhouses, one of which lost its top nail and hangs upside down. However, the birds don't seem to mind. Soon the colourful orioles will come, then the tiny hummingbirds that flit around the honeysuckle. Sometimes they squabble too and then dart off in a brilliant flash of green.
This is one of our favourite times of year.
Apparently the creek isn't big enough for two pair.
A couple of years ago, the beavers built a formidable dam on the creek and ever since, during the spring melt, the creek ponds right in front of our house. It couldn't be more perfect if we had contracted them to do it. In fact, that year I went around to our country neighbours with a gift of flowers and begged them not to blow up the beavers' dam. They're a nuisance to the farmers but we like what they do.
For the next 2-3 months we'll be treated to an variety of waterfowl that come to use the creek. Nesting Canada geese, ducks of all kinds, teal, the occasional kingfisher and the busy beavers who like to swim up and down the creek around twilight. They look so small in the water with only tiny noses and heads poking out. But when they land they are huge lumbering creatures. Our hillside is dotted with pointy stumps, evidence of their summer activity. Hans had to wind chicken wire around those trees we'd like to keep, and the rest are available to them.
I see little chickadees outside too. There's a pair sitting in front of our two birdhouses, one of which lost its top nail and hangs upside down. However, the birds don't seem to mind. Soon the colourful orioles will come, then the tiny hummingbirds that flit around the honeysuckle. Sometimes they squabble too and then dart off in a brilliant flash of green.
This is one of our favourite times of year.
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