As this group of geese crossed, there were actually four adults. The goslings were broken into two groups, each following an adult, with another adult in the rear, and one to the side, as though a "guard" goose, poised to attack anyone who might challenge their hike to their destination
As we watched, it became apparent that the older geese were well acquainted with traffic flow and patterns at the mall. They hopped to the front, standing on the mall road, and causing traffic to halt. The goslings fell into a "bowling pin" pattern to their side, and they crossed the road in a timely fashion, hopping up over the curb on the other side!
I had gotten out of the truck to take these pictures. I stood a long distance away, using the telephoto lens as I didn't want to bother the geese. After taking these pictures, I walked back to the truck, feeling such awe that these birds were so "smart".
Shortly after returning to the truck, Mark spotted another group of geese with little ones in tow following the same path as those who previously crossed! I was going to jump out of the truck once again, but Mark told me he would pull over nearer to them, as traffic seemed to prove no hindrance to them!
What a great way to spend time waiting!!! Even though Mark has never been a dedicated birdwatcher, he was totally engrossed, observing these geese!
We have no idea where these geese were coming from; the direction they were coming from leads to a major thoroughfare. It is the main road leading to the mall and it seems that they must have crossed that highway. Their final destination seemed to be a grassy knoll, surrounding a settling pond. There, they all enjoyed grazing on the vividly green spring grass!
2 comments:
It's so cool to see the geese. I get excited every spring awaiting the arrival of the fuzzy little ones. The other day when I went to Lowes, there was one nesting in the flower beds near the exit. It was perched way up high so it could see all around.
Geese knowing the traffic patterns...no surprise to me on that one. We've hunted geese for many years at Pymatuning Lake and game reserve...those birds truly do *know* where the game reserve lands and the public lands are...and they stay on the reserve land until the shooting hours are over!
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