Canada Geese and concrete plants

H.R. Waller
Date: 8 October, 2008
Time: 1800
Location: On the river by the WU Crew Boathouse
Weather: Chilly air, sunny, 57 degrees

Today at crew practice we were rowing closer to the east bank than normal and when I got to take a break while the stern four did their drills, I began to look around on the land near us. I observed a gaggle of little black and white heads peering out at our boat curiously. It seemed as though the 10 or so Canada Geese loitering on the bank had dropped everything to watch us. I then remembered the Great Blue Heron I saw on the water yesterday, and drew a striking juxtapostition. The geese are very social birds, huddling in packs together, while the heron was tho only one I could see. Also when we came too close to the Heron's realm he flew away nervously and didn't return until we were gone. However, the geese stood and watched us as if they did not feel threatened by our presence in the least. It would be interesting to know what makes these two bird species behave so differently socially and what effects this behavior has upon their lifestyle habits.