The Goose Is Loose

[Charlie]

Ramon, the photo is of one of my favourites called JCB... like a road digger.
Lonely wasn't always Lonely. She was the very first goose I made friends with, she was wild and untagged, same as her hubby Bully. Bully went missing and other paired geese arrived and had chicks...hence she became Lonely. She was a bit of an outcast. Some time later a badly damaged but repaired?? goose turned up. He had a massive broken chest wound that had healed irregularly, he became "Chesty" and was also an outcast, they can be a bit cruel geese. They paired up until her original husband Bully re-emerged. I swear you could see the sadness in Chesty's face and the "could it really be.." in Lonelys. This particular day is a day I'll never forget on the river. Ducks murder each others chicks believe it or not, at least I witnessed it on this same day and we were trying to save a baby duckling at the same time as Lonely was getting back together with Bully. Anyway, we watched Bully and Lonely renew their vows and do their courting ritual etc and returned to the duckling.

Well about an hour later I hear this most incredible honking and they fly along the river at eye level past me, their wings nearly in my face, turn, circle, honking their brains out all the while, and then are gone. I've never seen any do this before. I swear it was a goodbye, I had a lump in my throat the size of an apple. We saved or at least repatriated the duckling with it's mother and so all in all it was a great day at work. [img]smile.gif[/img]

The geese are Canadian Geese and this particular type are the biggest (and the best ) they are....
Canadian Giant Honkers.

[ 05-29-2003, 12:02 PM: Message edited by: Charlie ]

[Ramon de Ramon y Ramon]

Another great story, Charlie. [img]smile.gif[/img]

What became out of the duckling you ´saved?

[Djinn Raffo]

Damn Canadian Goose shit on me once and bit my sister.. i gave it the finger!

[Ladyzekke]

That baby goose is gargantuan LOL. [img]smile.gif[/img] And I love your stories Charlie! Especially the one re the Coot! A great depiction of what it's like if you were a coot! And of course I've always gotten a chuckle out of certain tactics that birds use, i.e., puffing their feathers all up to look bigger and meaner LOL, or doing some crazy dance (yeah I'm a freak be afraid), or my personal favorite, when they sit still and try to "blend in" (hey I'm not really here guys yall don't see me OK?) So I really enjoyed reading that LOL [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Epona]

Originally posted by ladyzekke: puffing their feathers all up to look bigger and meaner LOL,

I had a mate round last night. I introduced him to my parrot who drew himself up to his full height, puffed up all his feathers, lowered his head, narrowed his eyes, held his wings out from his body, and hissed. My parrot is not the friendliest bird in the world LOL.

Charlie - I love those parrot pics mate - might like to use one if that's ok with you!

[Charlie]

Epona,

I picked those parrot gifs up with you in mind, they're yours, (Ramon's post snuck in before I posted) feel free to use. If you want one hosted just ask love.

[ 05-30-2003, 05:24 AM: Message edited by: Charlie ]

[Charlie]

Todays shots of Pheonix.
His mum is back in the groove. Treated me just like a long lost meal, straight up to me as friendly and as gentle as ever. SupaGoose Pheonix followed suit. "If mum says he's ok he must be ok." He makes the most adorable little squeaky noises and has a beautiful little face...... and he's brave to boot which is a trait I always like. His little head and neck are turning yellow now but he's still covered in down. Amazing to watch him swimming, eating grass, diving and shooing away pigeons...he's only just over a week old. Here he is again, it's the star of the show.....

SupaGoose Pheonix....


Is He Cute Or What!


Full Steam Ahead!


Mother and Son


Being Eyed With Caution


For A Littlun I Ain't Half A Biggun!

Hope you liked em. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 06-02-2003, 01:35 PM: Message edited by: Charlie ]

[Melusine]

GREAT pics Charlie, and Phoenix (or is it really Pheonix?) is the sweetest little goose I've ever seen. So cute that he's only about a week old, he's is bloody enormous! I love the fact that waterbirds can swim so well when they're only tiny. Yesterday and today I saw baby coots, they'd just passed the "redhead" stage and it was great watching their little feet kicking away in the water so fast. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Aelia Jusa]

What a cute goose! I love watching ducks and geese diving for food in the water, their little legs paddling away at the back - so cute! [img]smile.gif[/img] There's a lake at my university that I walk past every day with heaps of ducks and geese (and a hen! I don't know how she got there ) and I always say hello and throw them some bread if I have some on me [img]smile.gif[/img] . Must be wonderful to be able to make real friends with them.

[Ramon de Ramon y Ramon]

All I can say is: Thank you, Charlie. [img]smile.gif[/img]

*and more dreamy sighing*