In Our Meadow

     The Canada Geese (or are they actually Dusky Canada Geese?) have moved onto the meadow between our house and the bay.  I only call it a “meadow” because that’s what it is most of the year, but after a lot of rain (like right now) it’s mostly a lake.  Apparently, it’s Goose Paradise; they have been happily hanging out there for several days.
     In past years, it’s been the Mallards who have taken over our meadow lake, but since the Canada Geese have arrived, the ducks have left the area to them.  Maybe it’s best not to argue with a goose.  The geese seem mellow enough from our vantage point – they let me get close enough for a grainy photo on 20x zoom setting.  One of those see-the-blurry-blobs-on-the-horizon sorts of pictures.
     I probably could have gone closer but I didn’t want to spook them.  We enjoy seeing them out our east windows.  Even though they are a distance away, it seems more satisfactory than just glimpsing them in Shier’s Field across from June Wright’s as we whiz by in the car.
     I’m unclear about those geese.  Do they come here every year to winter over?  Or have they taken up permanent residence on the peninsula?  If they are here year ’round, where do they stay in the warmer, drier months?  There’s a lot I don’t know about migratory birds, but I have heard that some Canada Geese have actually become non-migratory of late.  I just don’t know if that applies to ‘ours.’
     Or maybe the geese are scouting new spots for winter refueling.  Perhaps they’ve gotten wind (so to speak) of the controversy that’s been raging about removing dikes and disturbing the wetlands of the area.  Whatever their goosey reasons for  dillydabbling in front of our place, we are enjoying their company.  We hope that they’ll continue to honk and hunker here in Oysterville!