Snow Goose – Chen caerulescens Hugh and I waited until the end of duck hunting season to drive into Skagit Valley’s Fir Island. We were hoping to find one of the massive flocks of Snow Geese who winter around the island after a long migration south. When hunting season ends in late January, there’s a…
Goose + Water
Feathers are such critical components of a bird’s flight, insulation and general survival, it’s no surprise they have meticulous spa routines. The bathing helps remove dirt and parasites, the preening helps reset the feather barbs. Most birds also coat the feathers with protective oil from the uropygial gland. We came upon a small family of…
Canada Goslings Getting No Respect
If you’re a Canada Goose gosling in a public park, don’t count on too much respect. On this day, I stopped by one of my favorite bay-side walking spots and saw before me a flock of goslings. It was an enormous flock of babies interspersed with adults — like a National Geographic image of a giant penguin colony . . .
