Moving on from my first post at this link if you missed it, we are now near the ponds where I was hoping to see a Great Blue Heron. We have often seen one there, but not today. There was a pair each of Canada Geese and Mallards. They were fun to watch for a while. I sat quietly on a bench as I took some of these photos.
The garden was quiet but a lady with her two dogs walked on the other side. Dogs always start my clicking finger dancing.
The Geese and Mallards seemed very happy to be in each other's company.
Canada geese find mates when they are around two years old, and pairs stay together for the rest of their lives (24 years on average). The birds usually pick partners that are similar to their own body size, a pattern known as “assortative mating.”
Ducks live between 5 to 10 years. Did you know that the quacking sound that we associate with ducks comes from hens? Drakes can whistle, growl, croak, purr, squeak, hoot or be totally silent.
When the baby ducks (goslings as we know them) are still in their shell, they begin to communicate with their parents. They make greeting 'peeps', alarm calls, and high-pitched trills that indicate contentment. Adult calls elicit varying responses from goslings, showing that parents use a number of calls with different names to communicate with their young.
Canadian geese have a long lifespan. As an extreme, some can live up to twenty-four years in the wild, but their first year survival is precarious due to predators.
Geese stand on one leg to regulate their temperature. They are warm blooded and rely on their feathers to keep them warm when temperatures drop. Seeing as their legs have no feathers to keep them warm, they tuck one up to keep themselves a little bit warmer, swapping legs occasionally.
From here the path takes us through a wooded area. It isn’t long before we cross a bridge over a stream, which leads to a fairly steep incline. At the top is a flat area of the garden. But I will share that next time.
Thanks for coming with me to the garden.
Have a great day!
I got so caught up in your fact narrative that I missed the wonderful photos! I was telling Phil all about the Canada Geese being so monogamous and long lived. We have many, many here all year long, so Iwas extremely interested. So then I went back for the photos. I love your one-footed captures. And your Mallard portrait with those outstanding orange legs and emerald head. Did you know that when a group are out and browsing, there is always one watcher who only looks around for danger. They switch back and forth between watchers.
ReplyDeleteHappy you enjoyed them Ginny and that's very interesting about the watchers. Thanks for letting me know :)
DeleteI love this post with such wonderments if nature!! I like geese and ducks alright .. until breeding season ...they can get nasty mean. I've been nipped by them and it HURTS!
ReplyDeletePS, our kids, when young raised geese from hatchlings. My son, 6 years old named his "poops alot"
Now your 6 year old son's name for them made me laugh :) I remember being moved along by geese when I didn't realize I was so close to their nest. Fortunately I wasn't nipped!
DeleteExcelentes fotografias.
ReplyDeleteGostei.
Um abraço e continuação de uma boa semana.
Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
O prazer dos livros
Muito obrigado :) Fico feliz que tenha gostado das minhas fotos. Um abraço e continuação de boa semana.
DeleteWhat great facts about the geese and ducks! Nature is so Amazing! I love the reflection of the dogs and their master in the first photo, Denise. And the beautiful water ripples along with the gorgeous geese and ducks are such lovely peaceful photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you Martha Ellen, so glad you enjoyed them. It's a very peaceful place to sit and relax for a while :)
DeleteWonderful photos. Lots of interesting facts about ducks and geese that I didn't know.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ann, this was new to me also :)
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteLove the 2nd reflection and the cute dogs. Great captures of the geese and Mallards.
Take care, have a great day!
Hello Eileen and thank you :) I wish you the same.
Deletelove the reflection shot and the geese are so beautiful, especailly the one on one leg. gorgeous shot. i can feel the peace you felt sitting there looking at the pond. about assortative mating... I have noticed that humans do that also. each couple always has the same look, not after long years together but in the beginning. round faces pic round, sharp chins noses pick the same. sometimes when watching a movie, i will say they did a bad job, these two don't match
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting Sandra, never thought about this much before. I do remember feeling an immediate connection to hubs when we first met. Maybe this was part of it :)
DeleteI'm waiting for Harry to return to my ponds too. Not yet. But you never know!
ReplyDeleteKeeping my fingers crossed that Harry returns soon Jeanie :)
DeleteSo interesting why the geese stand on one leg. I waited so long for spring and it seems to be suddenly upon us. I saw some early shoots in the garden this morning.
ReplyDeleteHi Christine, and that's great! You will be getting those spring flowers popping up. I always look forward to it :)
DeleteVery tranquil shots.
ReplyDeleteThank you William, very much so :)
DeleteLovely photos. They are awesome birds.
ReplyDeleteThank you Anne, so glad you enjoyed :)
DeleteThe geese and ducks are beautiful. Congratulations on your successful photos. Have a nice week:)
ReplyDeleteThank you Lucyna, and I wish you a nice week also :)
DeleteLovely nature walk. Hopefully we'll be able to take one soon!
ReplyDeleteI hope so too Ellen and thank you :)
Deletepretty pictures, a nice time of year for a brisk walk!! in this area, i too find the large wild birds get along nicely. nice reflection!!
ReplyDeletethe osprey have returned to this area, i think they are early this year!!
Thank you Debbie :) Tomorrow is going to be a warmer day for us, another good day for a walk.
DeleteJust saw some ducks in a Japanese park last week...they are so beautiful. Would be nice to take a walk in this garden too!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds lovely! I would like to take a walk in your Japanese park :)
DeleteBeautiful peaceful place shame the whole world couldn't be so peaceful. Fabulous photos. Love the reflection of the lady with dogs in the pond.
ReplyDeleteThank you Diane, glad you enjoyed :) As for the whole world, I think that too.
DeleteThe facts are interesting and you went on an enjoyable walk. Next time I go to the park I'll look at the water birds by the lake and know more about their habits.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed Linda and that you found this information useful for your own walk :) Thank you!
DeleteThanks Linda, so happy you enjoyed :)
ReplyDeleteLove photos with reflections, in water...
ReplyDelete🚫Stop Time Change🚫
Thank you BB, happy you enjoyed :)
DeleteThat is ONE awesome photo of the Mallard Duck. And the geese have always been a favorite of mine. I see them at the creek sometimes. Their honk is LOUD, but I love how protective they are with each other.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Hi Sheri, thank you so much! Me too! I also love how they look after each other :)
DeleteChristine said you mentioned this about standing on one leg. This is so interesting. I had no idea.
ReplyDeleteHi Kay, thank you and I always find these facts interesting, and am happy to share what I have learned.
Deletei absolutely loved your post dear Denies specially the way you shared about the ducks and geese ,did not know about leg tough i read somewhere before about how couple stays together for life time how fascinating :)
ReplyDeleteyou have such a beautiful way to arrange your blog and all i enjoy being here .
more blessings to you and family!
Greetings Baili, so kind of you to say so, thank you! It is fascinating to find these things out. I would also like to wish you and your family many blessings :)
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