O Canada! Geese In Plight

With unmerciful blasting winds and drifts upon drifts of snow unfurled over the Island, we birds of a feather flock together; but for some it’s been a real struggle.

Island Canada Geese so accustomed to strolling and grazing freely on manicured golf courses- I just don’t think this homegrown species migrates much anymore.

So these days it seems everyone has a goose story.

Islanders reporting these waterfowl trapped frozen in coves and flocks hunkering together scavenging for the last blades of grass.  Geese hungry, disoriented and weak and often dead are observations I started to witness. I stumbled upon (literally) the birds while monitoring South Beach. And while Mother Nature can appear harsh, I often help out when I can do so safely. Like the other evening when nearly frozen, a goose “dropped” by my neck of the woods. I wrapped it up and brought it in from the cold, put it in a basket and placed a space heater nearby. Remembering a few wildlife rehabilitation steps to take I steamed up some spinach and gently fed “O Canada”. The goose very quickly defrosted, hisssssssssed  “thanks”  and was promptly  shown the door!

This morning Karl & Lisa Eirikssen met me up East where they distributed a truck load of corn. A bit of comfort out in the cold.