Wednesday, June 29, 2011

No tomar mi foto, imbécil!

Geese. For some they are wonderful friends that give us special pictures that we treasure forever. For others they are unforgivable pests that litter every inch of the ground around them with their foul droppings. I guess it all depends on where you meet these interesting birds.

I usually meet them at my local nature parks, so I don't mind the droppings. What I really like seeing are geese with a bunch of babies. Baby geese are known as goslings, just in case you didn't know. I met these two geese and their whole gaggle out in front of this viewing platform by the lake.

One thing before I go on. I dropped everything I've been doing to write this post. Time seems to get away from me lately. The hours of the day seem to be much shorter right now. I need to figure out how to stretch them back out. Maybe I should eat different meals or something... Back to the story.

They quickly decided I was not counted among their friends, so they waddled into the water and swam away. It doesn't matter if they liked me or not, because I liked them. They could even swim away, and I still liked them. Why? Because of the pictures they left with me.

They may have been calling me all sorts of bad names in goose language, or telling me not to take their pictures. But I was oblivious to all of it because I don't understand goose language. I wonder if that would work with people who's language I may or may not understand. "No tomar mi foto, imbécil!" Click!

And then the geese, or the people, swam far away from me. Honestly, I felt a little embarrassed because I chased them away from where they were when I discovered them. They may have stayed and enjoyed themselves if I had not approached them.

But then I remembered something. That platform and the trail I was on was made for me. If not for people like me who don't mind their poop, these geese would only have enemies. These geese need all the friends they can get. I pay their goosey little salaries! I'll do what I want!

Okay, so I'm only joking. Seeing the geese was fun, even if they weren't too sure about that. That's how it works. I'll keep doing what I do, and they'll keep doing what they do. And we'll all have fun.


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21 comments:

  1. This time of the year is wonderful because of sights like this one Ratty. I love to see all the little ones swimming around.

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  2. That's a beautiful and big family! I love the second photo!

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  3. Hi Ratty, what great photos. Can I just ask is it normal for your geese over there to have that many babies in one go?! Our Canada geese that I have seen lately in South UK only have up to a max of about 8-10. I have some great geese photos from this spring- when I get a chance I'll post them and an update :)

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  4. Y la mamá dijó, "¡Nos vamos hijos!" Which translates in our language, And mama said, "Let's go kids, goose it we're out of here!" :)

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  5. If one day I open a class to teach goose language, you will be my first student.

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  6. That is a huge goose family!
    The older you get the faster time flies.

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  7. I've never seen such a big goose family! They are adorable. You got great pictures. :D

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  8. What fantastic pictures Ratty...i can't believe the family is so big...and I love the way they swim single file in the water....great shots to see Thank you.

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  9. What adorable pictures!!! I'd love to see that sight!!

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  10. that is indeed a large gaggle of goslings!

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  11. i love the parade of geese in the 2nd pic, who knows, they may have been calling you, "come Ratty, test your powers in the water, join us here!" and had been teasing you playfully all along :)

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  12. That's one big family there. What fun to be able to watch them and get the shots.

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  13. Those are great photos! I like seeing them too and fortunately they don't come and pollute my yard (the wild turkeys do that!).

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  14. Thank you all for your comments. I really loved reading them. I'm strapped for time once again, so I'll answer questions.

    @Bemused
    I'm not sure if it's normal. I've seen several geese with families this big now. But when I was first learning about them, I read that the standard number of babies was 7. Now I'm not so sure what's standard.

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  15. Too bad geese don't have ears - then you would know for sure whether they wanted to be photographed. That's how my human tells what my moods are.

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  16. I agree with these comments...Beautiful post!

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  17. Wow, that's a lot of kids!I used to have tons of these critters on my property in Ohio. Every day about 7 of them would prance along the lawn, and driveway, dropping their little gifts all over. lol

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  18. I like it when they make that perfect formation and swim around in group. :) I love giving them bread crumbs too! :=)

    Webbielady

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  19. interesting goose language... :=)

    fammi fotografare imbecile! :=)o pure, prendi la mia foto, subito!

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  20. Ratty, I was reading the comments above. I wonder if perhaps some of these goslings were adopted? Maybe something happened to a mama goose and this family took in the little ones.

    Either that or perhaps this couple is babysitting for the entire lake. :)

    Have a wonderful 4TH of July!

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  21. You really scored big this time, Ratty, with those delighttful geese photos. They are so nice with their little ones trotting - or swimming along behind.

    As for goslings, I like the Bermuda rum of the same name! Wonder how it got that name?

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