Animal Signs: Canada Geese

Here is a fun photo taken at Sun Lakes State Park in Central Washington. A Canada Goose is teaching its chicks to obey the crosswalk signs:

Canada Geese

Canada Goose

Next up on my series of "5" Star Photos is the Canada Goose. Now in Southern Arizona, sightings of Canada Geese are treated as rare and something special. But, after 18 years in the Northwest, Canada Geese are like Mourning Doves or Gambels Quail in Tucson. This was one of my first photo trips to British Columbia. Actually, I may have still be more of a fly fisherman than photographer at the time. At any rate, it was over 20 years ago. And, as I past Campbell Lake on my way to Hosli Lake I saw this "V" Shaped string of Canada Geese moving through the weed beds of this shallow lake. Since I was still "searching" for anything to photograph (with my new camera) I decided why them them. I am glad I did. 

Canada Goose

Pairs of Two: Six

A few more mom's with baby:

Canada Goose with Chick (Lake Washington, Washington)

Killdeer with Chick (Lake Cochise, Arizona)

National Wildlife Refuges

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge,Washington, 1974

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is located where the freshwater of the Nisqually River meets the saltwater of south Puget Sound, creating the Nisqually River Delta. The delta is a biologically-rich and diverse area that supports a variety of habitats including the estuary, freshwater wetlands and riparian woodlands. It is considered the last unspoiled major estuary in Puget Sound. The Nisqually Delta has been designated as a National Natural Landmark because of its national significance as one of the best examples of this kind of coastal salt marsh system remaining in the North Pacific.

Nisqually Refuge is famous for the more than 275 migratory bird species that use the refuge for migration, wintering, or breeding. The refuge provides rearing and migration habitat for steelhead trout and several salmon species, and habitat for a variety of threatened and endangered species. The Black River Unit, southwest of Olympia, provides high quality habitat for Coho and Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, migratory birds, and a diversity of other species.

Much of the refuge is accessible only by boat. From the visitors center there is a 5 mile trail through the woodland and riparian areas.

On an interesting historical note: In 1833, the Hudson's Bay Company established a trading post and farm in the Nisqually River delta. Soon, European-Americans began to settle in the area. By 1839, a major part of the econmy began to shift from fur trading to farming and sheep grazing. The refuge is the site of the signing of the first Indian treaty in Washington Territory, in December 1854, at a grove along the east bank of McAllister Creek now known as the Treaty Trees. The treaty reserved certain fishing, hunting, and gathering rights for the tribes. Members of the Nisqually Tribe still exercise these rights, fishing for salmon in refuge waters.

About 50 miles from Seattle, Christine and I went there frequently during the mid and late 80's to hike and see wildlife. It wasn't until 1990 when I decided it was time to buy a camera that I started taking photos, though. Here are a few photos from the early 90's:

Blue Goose

Canada Goose

Canada Goose with Great Blue Heron

Canada Geese with Snow Goose

Snow Geese

Back to Nesting

Unlike Morning Doves, many other bird nests are difficult to find. I suspect that's nature's way of trying to protect birds when they or their chicks are most vulnerable. Canada Geese range through most of North America -- although rarely in Southern Arizona. They breed in Canada and the Northern US.  The Common Loon, also called the Great Northern Loon, spends its summers in inland Canada and Alaska, and winters on both coasts of North America. They can occasionally be seen during migration in the inland US on their way to the coast. Sandhill Cranes winter here in Southern Arizona. Right now there are probably 40,000 in the Whitewater Draw area. However they breed in the north, mostly Canada but also in the Rockies. They typically breed in open marshes or wetlands -- which is where I found the one below.

Canada Goose in Columbia Valley, Central British Columbia, Canada

Common Loon at Island Lake, British Columbia

Sandhill Crane at Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Geese

On to Geese. I was going to start with the Brant Goose found along the Pacific Coast. I had many nice photos taken in the Puget Sound in Washington. They were some of my first photos when I was using a Minolta APS cartridge system. I must not have scanned them into iPhoto and don't have them anymore. Oh well. So, first up the most common of all geese, the Canada Goose abundantly found throughout North America (except Southern Arizona and Southern Florida. Then Ross's Goose, Snow Goose, and White Fronted Goose all of which migrate from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts to the Arctic in the summer. Geese are herbivores although they sometimes eat small insects and fish. 

Canada Goose

photo taken at Campbell Lake, British Columbia

Ross Goose

photo taken at Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon

Snow Goose (both light and dark forms)

photo taken at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Washington

Snow Goose

photo taken on Fir Island, Washington

Snow and White Fronted Goose

photo taken at Tule Lake, California