My annual goose story

In response to an overwhelming number of requests to let my readers know what has happened in our goosey world, I will give the 2007 version of "Goose, Goose, Duck." I hope she will appreciate it.

A pair of geese staked out our pond early in the season and drove away any pretenders to the nest for a month or so before the goose took up daily residence. We know it is no longer the same pair that have entertained us for 10 or more years unless somehow the ankle bracelet fell off the gander's leg. But they obviously are familiar with us, and the place. They did not fly or run away from us as other fowl do on our pond. They actually come toward us making guttural noises and opening their beaks a bit. They expect and enjoy something to eat from us.

The weather was nasty all of the time that the goose sat on her eggs. The cold weather around Easter, snow and rain all fell on her as she kept her vigil. I would look out at her when I got out of bed in the morning and there she sat, keeping those eggs warm. At the last light of day I would again check on her, and she was always there. Meantime Mr. Gander swam, flew or grazed, but was always very near.

When our grandson's dog decided to investigate the nest, the gander was immediately there protecting his family. With help from the dog's master and us nothing happened to the eggs or the adult geese.

Finally one morning I noticed that the goose was sitting up higher in the nest and the gander was swimming around below the elevated washtub we have prepared for our friends' nursery. When it got lighter I realized that two little fuzz balls were also swimming around with the gander. The goose must have decided that the others would leave the nest quicker if she were not in there with them, so she flew to the water and one by one five more bits of yellow fluff dropped to the water and immediately started swimming with the family.

Two hours later I looked out to check on them again and saw that the adults had led the goslings onto our front lawn and seemed to be heading north into the plowed field.

Sure enough, within another hour they had walked those newly hatched goslings about a half-mile across our field, a road and a neighbor's field to another pond.

Other years this had happened on the second or third day of the young ones' lives, but this time they didn't even stay to have lunch here.

We kept anxious eyes on them as we drove up or down the road and could see that they were still in residence across the road. Five days later the family returned, but this time there were only six goslings. They visited for a few hours before returning to the other pond.

At least two more times they have returned. Yesterday Lester went out and fed them some stale bread we had been saving. The adults came right up to him, as did the goslings, but the little ones couldn't master the pieces of bread. The parents didn't hesitate to eat their shares however.

We don't know if it was the experience with the visiting dog that has made them avoid our pond for long stays, or if the copious rain has made the neighbor's pond more desirable this year. But at least we know that we're still on their visiting list.