One family Made It So Far

This was not taken at Hawrelak Park pond where they are trying to chase the geese away. This is at a recreational park in the city so maybe the city is chasing here as well but one family has made it.

 I told one boy that the crackers he was feeding the goslings were not good for them. He said that he heard bread was bad and I said it was the same thing. I didn’t freak out and he went away then came back without the crackers and sat with me and we observed and chatted together. One little girl brought a large flat box and set it on the ground near the goslings. At first i thought it was food then saw it was filled with grass, a “nest” for the little ones. How sweet.She really cares. And so does the boy.

There is hope.

Get Rid of the Birds RANT

Something stinks in this city and it isn’t just bird poop.The City of Edmonton wants to get rid of the birds from its parks. Too much poop and it interferes with the public events and if we get a swimming pool or beach or restaurant (let’s develop the beautiful river valley and make it more people-friendly).

The skyline is going UP.

I agree, the poop is a large problem. The people are  a large problem. We haven’t got the money to enforce the “no feeding” laws so the solution is to get rid of the birds.

A lot of people like to feed the geese and ducks and this in part has created huge over-population and bacteria problems. So the city and the University of Alberta have joined forces to deal with the problem. Not the problem of the people. The problem of the geese. And ducks Oh, and that pair of red-necked grebes that are nesting in Hawrelak park? Well that is a shame, isn’t it?  Tsk. Tsk.

We all have to listen to the annoying recordings of stressed chicks, cries of raptors, etc. –  that doesn’t fool any of us, bird or human.The university is  bringing a black lab to chase the geese after sunset and shining green lazers on the islands and shores.Now THAT must be working. I have not seen one offspring this year.

Unnatural behaviour of the birds crowding the edge to feed. The blue is a wake board that has been discarded.On the notice that was posted recently, it says that it is humane. I don’t buy that. I phoned the city to complain about the lack of enforcement. I encounter dog poop on the trails and wildlife harassment from these pets that are running loose. A couple of years ago the laws allowed dogs in the park, on lese and on-trail only. Well, that’s a joke.Though there is lots of poop from the geese, now there is poop from the dogs on the trail and I see so much garbage left behind from the humans.it is hard to take a photo without garbage in it.

There is over population-people are not supposed to feed the birds. But as you see in these photos there is total disregard for the signs. they sit in front of the signs and feed the birds little knowing that this behaviour is the cause of the over-population and the poop and of the movement to chase the birds away.

After reading the sign I approached people like a mad middle-aged woman that I am, yelling about how the city hates the ducks and geese.They laughed at me and said “oh ya, we hate the geese”. as they threw bread to them. (I was acting crazy, I was crazy with grief over the loss of green space in this city and the wildlife within its boundaries) Last year when I kindly told a man that bread is bad for them. he replied that I was a know-it-all, that these geese are his “friends” and he fed them whole grain bread because it was better for them. He also told me to f-off.

Some of the people that come to the park say they like the geese. You are killing them with your kindness. Yes there are lots, they will never be extinct this year.. One generation lost at this park  won’t make a big dint. One person feeding isn’t a big deal . But when you multiply that by hundreds it is a big deal.

I phoned the city  number for animal control that was listed on the U of A sheet and the person that i spoke to didn’t realize the city number for animal control is on the sheet and said that she did not realize the full extent of the actions that the university was taking.When I talked to someone at the university they said the goal of the city is to chase  the fowlaway from the parks.

I asked why there was no enforcement by the by-law officers. There are, but there are only two for all the parks in the city and more are being trained for the summer months. I am not sure what I believe.I have had an inkling that the city wanted to chase the birds away since I saw the fake coyotes last year before the big triathelon and heard talk of beaches and swimming pools.

Gosh, just think, if the city enforced the park by-laws, this may be a good way to keep some of the geese and ducks,   hire staff to educate families about nature and gee, it might even  be a good way to raise money for the new hockey arena that is costing billions.

Blooming

Yes, I went to my favourite park to view one of my favourite cherry trees.and to another park to take photos of the blooming crabapple trees.Enjoy these photos and be aware that my next post is going to be a HUGE rant.I know that I shouldn’t go to the city parks on weekends-I always come away angry.Stay tuned…

 

 

 

 

Got to Love that Spring Green

I took this the other day and going back to see if the blossoms are out. I cropped this just so to bring out the beech or birch trees in the background.

First Blush of Spring

It is refreshing to see the grass turning green and the leaves unfurling from the buds. The temperature is warm and hearts are light.It seems like spring is late but photos from a couple of years ago tell me that the ice was on the pond until the end of April. Perhaps it seemed like such a long winter because it always is here in Central Alberta with six months of snow.

Today is a celebration of spring. The birds are mating, including a pair of red-necked Grebes  and during an early morning walk at the pond I heard my first warbler and saw it too, although way high up in the trees.My heart sang to hear the call of the Yellow-Rumped Warbler, though this was a “Myrtle rather than the usual Audobon’s variety.

 

Common Goldeneye Ducks

I find the Common Goldeneye Ducks a never-ending source of entertainment. A pair is featured on my header. The male is more colourful with a greenish head and white and black body. The female has a brown head. They are a monogamous duck. They are small and provide the most comical viewing of all the ducks that I see here. They have their legs more toward the back of their bodies because they are diving ducks but on ground they waddle. When people feed them and they shouldn’t,  the ducks become very bold and look you in the eye as if to say, “Well, what have you got for me?” Otherwise they eat crustaceans and water life as well as plants.

They are very aggressive in the water, chasing away any others that get close and will dive and come underneath another duck or goose and bite them.

The ducklings stay in the nest for up to two days then are out on the water. They bob like little corks. Some overwinter here in warm ravines where there is open water all year but most migrate to the United States.They are plentiful here.

Here is the male, bending his head back in his courtship ritual. This particular one is so athletic that he creates a big splash as he bends backwards.

Here is a female, just swimming here but totally entertaining in her behaviour.

Here is a mother, with one of her babies, just a few days old.

 

Here is a close-up of a duckling, a little older.

 

 

 

 

Tranquil Moments

There is a lot of action at the ponds lately , what with territorial spats, breeding displays and mating. The waters are stirred up and it is a challenge to get a shot with all the birds in the frame.I like these action shots but I also like the quieter ones, when there are tranquil  moments when the birds are relaxed in calm waters. Today I will share some of these moments. Do you have your favourite ones?

 

 

I think that we are all enjoying the warmer weather.

 

Spring-When It Changes, the Changes are Big

My winter boots are still on the carpet by the door. I used my winter coat just a week ago. I wrote about the ice on my most frequented pond last week.It looked dismal then but now it looks absolutely fabulous! I got away with jeans and a t-shirt yesterday and it was HOT-definitely shorts weather. It is as if we have  moved right into summer but after a delay Spring has arrived in Alberta, with the wooden stems on the bushes turning bright red and yellow and the buds are just starting to open. I can smell the earth and the woods and the smoke from the barbeques.

The pond is alive and well with the sight and sound of Canada geese, Lesser Scaups, Common Goldeneyes, Mallards, a Muskrat, Red-necked Grebe, American Wigeons and a couple of young women in bikinis.

Sorry, no bikinis here, just the birds. Oh, I am so in my element! I found ducks and geese right at the waters edge  nesting, with the male a short distance away guarding the female.I was impressed with the camouflage, was very close before I saw them until the gander or drake appoached me and quacked or hissed and I backed off , respectfully. The geese were staking out their territory and all were displaying breeding behaviour, a few nesting on the two islands but a couple right beside the walking path.

Here are some shots that I got. Sometimes the light was harsh and I tried to get partially in the shade or with the sun behind me.First the Lesser male and female Scaups. Local naturalists John Acorn and Chris Fisher, in the field guide “Birds of Alberta”  describe the male scaup as looking” like an oreo cookie, black at both ends with white in the middle.”

Male Lesser Scaup

Female Lesser Scaup

Red-Necked Grebe

Nicely -camouflaged Female Mallard Duck

Resting but attentive male Mallard

Male Common Goldeneye Rising in the water

Female Goldeneye Take-Off

Talking Female Mallard

A Canadian Goose Chase

American Crows are Back

Male American Wigeon (did not see any females)

So nice to have Spring come back. I am curious to see when the babies will hatch this year and when I will see the first warblers.Happy shooting, everyone!

I have been gifted with an Award

As much as I love my blogs,  they can be a distraction from making a living and I need to pay the rent and bills plus feed myself. I just got a job but severely short of hours and the weather puts a bit of a damper on things so have been abit “low”. Along comes a post  from Eunice , of “Living and Lovin”. Thank you Eunice, for the

She writes in her blog, “The WordPress Family Award is reserved for folks in Cyberspace who are  unceasingly kind, sympathetic, encouraging, and open to laughter – and who keep each other going by sharing, commenting, and making personal connections even though they may actually be virtual strangers.” Well , that gave me a lift and I want to pass on to 10 others but don’t know how and frankly do not have the time. But you are welcome to check out who I follow  and go from there. Thank you to all  whom I follow and enjoy, and share comments with, or whom I discover via the “re-blog”(most get deleted but I do take the time to read some) . And now I will get off-line and follow up some leads for work. Blessings to you all.Keep expressing what is in your heart and soul.

A Way to Go Yet

I had my first bicycle ride yesterday-it was sunny and somewhat warm but got cooler and very overcast. That is when I decided to go to Hawrelak Park to see how the ice was melting. After being at Hermitage (where the ponds are clear) I was shocked to see the pond mostly frozen.I feel sorry for the ducks and geese-they look somewhat forlorn but those may be  my projections. See for yourself.

 

Though I did get to see a couple of “firsts” for the year, including this pair of “Common Goldeneye ducks.

 

and this male  American Widgeon.

I enjoyed watching these two Mallards come to a puddle beside my car and took these photos out the side window.They didn’t fly away and I stayed in the car to give them space and take photos then slowly opened the door and quietly got out. They walked around the car and back onto the lawn without panic. To give you an idea of how overcast it was my settings were: 1/20 sec; f/6.3,ISO 400 exposure comp .7 stepFinally, here is a shot of  a goose that expresses the mood of the pond.

Yes, this too, shall pass.