It must still be Winter...

...because the Canada Geese are still hanging out in our front yard!

It's fun to watch them splash around in the snow melt by the street.

Chukani took Keena for walks around the big park down the street a couple times a week throughout this past winter, and at times we would see flocks of several hundred geese at once, hanging out on the flat grassy areas. Lately it's only been a few dozen at a time. So I think a good portion of the Canada Goose population has already started their trek back home for the year. But with all the snow we've seen in the last several weeks... I'm hoping they don't decide to linger too long.

The birdseed feeders in our front yard are certainly attracting more than just the little finches and songbirds I was expecting. In addition to the aforementioned geese, we get woodpeckers coming to visit, a few pigeons now and again, and even a couple neighborhood squirrels who climb the pole and shake the feeders to get at the bird seed and sunflower seeds. Those squirrels are little rascals!

I do enjoy the Canada Geese coming to visit, except for when they decide to lay down in the flower beds out by the street. Pat and I planted tons of bulbs there last fall, and I don't want the tulips and daffodils to get squashed by a goose-tush, if ya know what I mean.





These pics are from a couple Fridays ago while I was home from work. One of the geese was a bit territorial about "his" puddle and was chasing everyone away that tried to come near.

Here he is enjoying his private bath:

And here he is sqwaking at a possible interloper!

I was standing pretty close watching the geese toodle around, and none of them seemed to mind me at all. Now, that's not to say that I would ever actually approach one of them, as I've seen how fast they can move, and I have no intention of getting bitten, or... (oh, you know it's coming...) GOOSED! hahaha

Sorry, that was a bit corny I know, but someone had to do it.

As I was wandering around outside for the goose photo-shoot, I saw that the kids across the street had built a little snow man (more of a snow-mound with eyes and a hat!) since the snow was so wet and heavy. Then I saw that our next-door neighbor decided to take the inspiration and go a little farther...

His snow monster was enormous! I think eventually he had a nice colorful hat on the snowman's head, and created a little friend by his side as well. I didn't have my camera with me for the final art installment, and unfortunately (luckily?!) the snowman didn't last more than a day under the Colorado sunshine.

Easter is next weekend, so Spring can't be too far away... I hope!

Lawn Ornaments

Who needs to spend money decorating their front lawn? Not us!

Each Autumn the Canada Geese come down to Colorado for a visit. Our house is a couple blocks from a nice park with a pond... which is a big draw for the geese and there are several hundred hanging out there every day over the course of the long winter.

In the evenings, we watch them fly overhead as they leave the pond and search out lodging for the night. If we're out walking with Keena, she loves to watch them fly by, for sure their honking gets her attention.

Every once in a while the geese go on a "field trip", and wander down the street. This particular afternoon a few weekends ago- they happened to come across our songbird feeder, and invited all their friends to hang out for the afternoon. I think I counted about 20 geese on the front lawn at one point.


They didn't seem to mind the cars going by, and I even walked outside to snap a photo at one point, and I don't think any of the geese even got up from their lounging spots across the lawn.

Every once in a while some would wander off and more would show up. It's the only time this winter I've seen more than a couple at a time on our street... must've been a big convention or something!


Of course- the cats love to sit by the big front window in the living room and look out on the squirrels running around, and watch the sparrows and finches visiting the feeders. This particular afternoon they were both entranced by the geese parading around. Maybelle especially thought this was an amazing sight- and Belly sat on her perch watching them for hours! I joined her in her vigil, it was a Sunday afternoon and I had a good book to read, so I sat in the easy chair, and she up on her kitty scratch post, and we both enjoyed bird watching a bit.

As the afternoon sun began to wane, the geese started thinking about their evening plans. One goose stood and started honking while taking a few steps. Then several others joined in, and all of a sudden they flapped their wings a few times and just took off into the evening sky. Immediately the arrow flight formation was apparent. How do they determine who flies and in what order? It was truly amazing to see it up close... and their beating wings make a lot of noise!

The dozen or so geese left then decided it was time to leave as well, but they seemed to prefer to just mosey on down the street, no fanfare and beating of wings for this group. I was a little sad to see them go actually. I think the Canada Geese are really beautiful, and I love living in a part of the country they call home for several months each year. Now that Spring is upon us, they will be heading back to the great north here pretty soon (well... most of them at least.) And I for one will be a little sad to see them go.