Tuesday, January 19, 2010

It's Canada Goose not Canadian Goose

There is a new love in my life. Recently I have spent hours staring at this new love with desperate fascination. I'm so infatuated that I'm into serious stalking...with binoculars. So what if the object of my obsession has feathers. I'm not ashamed to admit that I am on my way to becoming a serious Birder. Don't laugh. The birds are safe. In spite of my most stealthy self, they won't let me get close.

Last weekend I witnessed something rare among the Anseriformes at Heppler's Ponds. In the midst of 200 waterfowl emerged 6 Canada Geese which were in the aristocratic company of 4 Tundra Swans! I watched, transfixed, as the unusual group swam to the edge of the pond, got out, waddled across the snow and took off together. Wow. It was surprising to see how much the svelte Swans towered over their unlikely companions. I did not know Tundra Swans and Canada Geese hung out.

By the end of this semester I must identify 200 species of our avian friends for an ornithology class. What an exciting challenge. By the way...the Red Jungle Fowl is the ancestor to what bird? (Hint: it tastes like chicken).

3 comments:

Erin Brady said...

Love your post! Is the bird a turkey? That's the only thing I can think of...I would have loved to have seen those swans, they're such graceful birds.

Racquel & Aidan Goodwin said...

i'm going to have to just guess chicken cuz that's the bird that actually taste like chicken! sounds like fun you'll have to come pick up briger he would love to go bird watching with you =)

Ashley Brinn said...

The Red Junglefowl (aka: Gallus gallus) is a tropical member of the Pheasant family, and is often believed to be a direct ancestor of the domestic chicken. So my guess is the Dodo Bird!!! Ha ha.