Spring seemed to take its time arriving but now everything is bursting out all over. The leaves are out and starting to lose that fresh spring green as they mature and the blossoms on the trees are at their finest. I took the time to try to capture some images, which was a bit challenging because it was a little breezy outside, but worth the effort as it is so pretty outdoors.
Saw my first sighting of newly hatched Goslings today, five of them surrounded by a few pair of Geese guarding them and keeping a watchful eye on intruders. Grateful for my longer lens, I got close enough for some very cute photos of these hatchlings.
While visiting this lake in the south side of the city, I found another visitor, an American coot. I love their red eyes and they can fold their wings and rear feathers into a oval shape at their hind end when they are displaying, quite beautiful to see with white feathers around the edges . Otherwise they are somewhat plain but can provide a lot of entertainment with their young and are ferocious defenders of their territory. To my knowledge, there is only one, which was standing on a tree limb, preening itself.
It is interesting to see a pair of grebes at this city lake where I don’t usually see them. Since they are a pair, perhaps they will stay. The neighbours of the feathered variety may not be too appreciative of their presence, will wait and see who wins the territorial battles.
Is this what we want to leave for them?
Saturday was the occasion of the 37th Ben Calf Robe Annual Traditional Pow Wow.
After noting the high drop-out rate from high school for Indigenous youth, the Ben Calf Robe society, named after a respected Blackfoot elder, was started in 1980, working with the Catholic School Association in Edmonton to support indigenous youth between 16-24 years of age in education and culture. The society supports many organizations from group home to counselling services.
The organization, whose motto reads: Our children are sacred: our work strives to protect and enhance this sacredness by providing children and their families with holistic education, supportive social services and programs of high quality and cultural relevance, offers several important programs and initiatives to help support children, women and families.
Saturday night was the 37th annual Ben Calf Robe Pow Wow. Rhythmic beating of drums, singing, beautiful regalia, sound of bells, jingles and eagle whistles was mesmerizing. I saw friends from my recent course and fellow members of the camera club who come to take photos every year. The light is challenging as well as the background but I had a good time and even joined in on one of the inter-tribal dances. I must do some research to brush up my memory on the dances and regalia.
This Pow Wow took place on the traditional land of Treaty 6 Territory. It was a gathering of family and friends, an evening filled with good energy.
I decided it was time to try a new theme, and liked one and even chose it, but one option was not available and that was the header. I missed it, so tried this new theme. It is easy for me to read because I am developing cataracts and need the high contrast. It is also a good choice for displaying photography. Feel free to let me know what you think.
The following images are a random selection from last weekend when I ventured out to two different sites, celebrating the arrivals of migrating birds and the commencement of Spring. Enjoy!
These ducks are described as having a voice that sounds like a rubber ducky. That is how I knew they had arrived at this city pond , before I actually saw them. Hunters call them “bald pates”. Here are a few of my most recent images, ha ha, with them preening and facing away from me, followed by one older image…
After some exchanges with some fellow bloggers, I need to correct my observations. The Male Goldeneye does indeed do a great display and is zealous in chasing off competition, especially after finding a mate, but does not help in incubation of the young nor in their raising. He is basically out of the picture, wooing young ladies again, I think, but I will record this with images over the coming season.
Presently the Male Goldeneye is very territorial, chasing off any other ducks that come too close to his chosen mate or the nest. Lots of action on the pond right now. Some of these chase scenes are very poor photos but my purpose is to share the behaviour, with more good photos being my aim.
When I write “Watch where you Walk”, I could be talking about goose poop, because the amount is piling up but I am referring to being careful about getting in the middle of an argument. There are constant skirmishes between Canada Geese fighting over territory at this time of year as they prepare for prime nesting sites.
I walked between two trees and had just come out in the open to get close to the water and heard honking and hissing and realized I had inadvertently walked into the middle of a quickly-accelerating altercation. I made eye contact with one briefly but saw this agitated gander was focused on another gander and I backed off in a hurry. The two charged each other and I could hear the impact of their breasts thumping as they connected in mid-air.
I was not the target but do not recommend coming between two who are having an argument. Once I was safely out of the way, I managed to capture a few shots that show this altercation that consisted of charging, biting and loud honking in order to chase off the offender who had crossed boundaries.
The defeated gander will come back again, but perhaps stay a little further away, but these skirmishes happen over and over. Please keep your children close to you and do not try to feed or pet the geese, especially at this time of year.
