My neighbors tell me that it’s been years since the geese have attempted to raise a family at the pond. In past years, when they did, the snapping turtles (or the Heron?) would snatch the babies from the water. They have described to me the daily diminishing of a family as the chicks, one by one, disappeared.
As if to prove them right, yesterday when I first saw the goslings, so too was a turtle hanging in the surface light. Here’s a picture I took from the high bank of the pond. The turtle was midway, shore to shore. I guess it was about 12 inches in diameter.
Today, the Heron perched at the top of a low pine, surveying the pond. Click on the picture to see it landing in the pine. Use your arrow key to return to the post.
As the photo below shows, however, all was harmony later on, when the family passed by the Heron as it paroled the shore of the island. You can see the Heron just above the tail of the parent in the rear, not seven feet from the family.
Although it may seem that I’m approaching too close for comfort, I am actually about 20 feet away. And, as the adults are not honking, there was no alarm. Actually, they are quite used to me and never honk anymore when I pass by. Still Mama or Papa is watchful!
SilverLining 