Goose Nests and Ginko

Its cold.

The geese are hiding in the long grass, although I am not sure how warm that must be. All prickly and wet. It floods you know. Today the ground is frozen, but yesterday the mud was thick. If I were a goose, I would build a nest out of the flood zone. I'd line it with down and put it in the sun. I am not sure how swift Henrietta is though. I hope she took notice of the floods earlier this spring. I hope she watched the waterline with a keen eye. Every year her babies wash down the river in the rains. Its hard work being a goose. Maybe a little ginko-biloba would help. I could sprinkle it on her daily ration of cracked corn.

She is a sweet thing, Henrietta, not very bright though. Maybe it was the bad experience she had the year the snake tried to eat her eggs. She built a sturdy nest under the bushes next to the front door and had a run in with a slithering black serpent. I wonder if her babies lived. I didn't live here then. All I know is the previous owner heard her screaming and dispatched the snake. I guess she learned her lesson. Don't build houses by front doors.

She has exhibited learned behavior. She and Henry both dive completely under the water to bathe these days. I believe that is very unusual behavior for a goose. I think they learned it from the hooded mergansers who zip around out there diving for dinner and bobbing back to the surface to shake their little white heads and clear their ears--if they have ears.

Regardless, Henrietta needs to find a place to nest. Last year when the waters rose, I considered rowing out to rescue the eggs, but I wasn't sure how kindly my goose friend would take to egg thievery or if she would accept the little round wombs back into the fold.

I think, this year, I will put a big sign in the yard with a red arrow pointing to the hill where the day-lilies bloom (her feed cup is red, maybe she will associate the color with food) and if she dosent get the message, maybe I will build her nest myself. I'll line it with feathers from my favorite pillow and set it where the goslings can see the morning sun.