Old Stomping Grounds

     A few days after Christmas we headed for Grande Prairie for a visit to see friends and relatives. I also wanted to tour the area south of Grande Prairie where I worked as a logger for Proctor and Gamble at the time. When I left the city around 9:00 it was -27 degrees Celsius but the sun was bright and lightening the hoar frost and snow covered forest. The main haul road south from the Weyerhaeuser pulp mill was in beautiful shape as it used to be with the help of winter frost and snow filled potholes. It was 1979 when I last travelled this road, 35 years already. Where has the time gone? As I drove along I remembered incidents and landmarks from my past.
     Mile 11 was the spot a loaded log truck driver dodged a coyote and ended up out in the swamp, still upright but now jobless.

Coyote

     Here at mile 29 was the spot another fellow tipped his truck over and scattered logs for more than a hundred yards after hitting a bump and losing control on the down hill slope.
     Right here we were travelling home after a late shift around 2:00 in the morning. I was driving a crew cab with three or four work mates, including my friend Smokey, an East Indian immigrant. It was a bright moonlit, cold winter night when suddenly several timber wolves crossed through the high beam headlights. I immediately stopped and shut the truck off, hoping to see more wolves. We stood outside the truck and enjoyed listening to the wolves howl back and forth from each side of the road. We were surrounded by spectacular wilderness symphony. What a memorable few minutes. I could not convince Smokey to sit beside the road while we drove away.
     There is the spot I shot a moose while hunting with my wife and first son Michael when he was around a year or a bit more old. I remember having a friend of mine help carry that moose to the road. He was a big strong Frenchman who broke trail while I staggered along behind trying to hold up my end of the moose load.

Trees planted around 1975

     Mile 32 corner is where I planted my first trees into the naked cut block. Those trees now stand more than thirty feet tall. It worked! This was the same area that the company helicopter landed in front of one of our delimbing machines to inform the operator that he was on fire. The rear engine was burning giant billows of smoke and flames while he was driving down the road.

Compressor Station

     It is difficult to see some of the landmarks as there are new roads, oil well sites, compressor stations, pipelines and gas plants scattered all the way along the road. The old airstrip is not even noticeable.

5 or 6 year old Lodgepole Pine 

     There are no more mature trees left, or very few. This forest has been infested by the Mountain Pine Beetle which has destroyed millions of Lodgepole pine from B.C. through Alberta and beyond. The company is trying to salvage as much of the dead and dying timber as possible. When I was logging here the plan was to cycle through the forest on a eighty year cycle. Timber was supposed to last forever if this allowable cut could be maintained.

Mountain Pine Beetle Infested Trees 

     It is now 40 years since the first trees were cut in 1972 and there are few mature trees left in the Weyerhaeuser district one area. I wonder what will happen in the next few years to the forest, the wildlife and the land. What new pest or fire will come through to disrupt man's best laid plans.

Healthy Looking Coyote

      I did so enjoy spending time with a coyote who has discovered that there may be a few scraps of food at a mandatory truck stop where the drivers must check their load security and equipment. This coyote will hopefully not become another blotch on the road, himself food for scavengers. This is mile 42 and it is plus 2 degrees C. It always seems to be warmer out here than in town.

Snowy Cattails

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Today's Observed Predators

     There's a moose on top of the hill in front of the rising sun. Is it a bull? "I think that would make a great photo'" I think to myself as I drive down the highway wondering if it is worthwhile to go back.
     I am not as early as I would like to be. I generally like to be walking down the path before daylight to get far enough from the busy highway in hope of seeing wolves or other predators. It is a mile to the first spot that I can turn around to head back and another mile past the grazing moose to where I can turn back. By the time I get back to where the moose is standing, she has her head up watching me, as I am the only vehicle stopping on the busy highway. Instant alarm and moosey self-preservating concern kicks in about 10 seconds after I open my door, camera in hand. Time for a couple quick shots before the cow moves off. Oh well, I did not have the camera quite set well enough for the shot I envisioned. On to the next possible shot.

Great Horned Owl with Snowshoe Hare

     About two miles down the highway something black catches my attention from the corner of my left eye. Ravens circling and in some kind of flap over another critter on the fencepost. Something unusual going on here so I toddle on down the road to where I can turn back once again. I'm not making much headway this morning, oh well. I pull far off the highway as I can so the busy traffic can whiz by safely. A great-horned owl is sitting on the fence post holding a snowshoe hare. Poor bunny! The ravens are trying their best to harass the owl into dropping it's hard earned meal. I think the ravens have forgotten that they are fooling around with one of the greatest avian predators in the Boreal forest. All the owl does is watch them closely and duck its head as the raven dives it. The owl has its meal and is going to keep it. It soon flies up into a nearby aspen tree where it is well camouflaged and protected from dive bombers.

Pretty Well Hidden Great Horned Owl

     When I think of predators, I don't always consider birds. There are probably more predatory bird species than the more commonly thought of mammals. I am not even considering the greater numbers of deadly, tiny insects or microscopic creatures under our feet in the forest that most of us know nothing about.
     On this day I came across a very deadly Northern Shrike hunting any small songbirds such as the cute little Black-Capped Chickadees and White-Breasted Nuthatches or the Hairy Woodpeckers that I watch for a few minutes. Nuthatches, now that I think about it, are preying on any insects they can find in the cracks of the aspen tree boles. Same with the two woodpeckers that are digging hidden insects from their hideaway inside the rotting trees. The magpies and ravens that are harassing the owl are also very opportunistic predators, not at all shy about stealing baby birds, eggs or meaty scraps found on kills made by larger predators.

Too Quick Black-Capped Chickadee

     Here we are, well into the winter season, the first day after the shortest day of the year. Most birds have migrated south and today I have spotted eight species of birds of which only two are prey for predators. Chickadees and snow buntings do not have safe lives just because they are cute to us. They have to be on high alert at all times while they flit from seed to fruit gleaning every possible calorie during the day so they can survive the long cold nights without dying from hypothermia.
     On my walk today I came across several moose and noticed quite a few clumps of hair already scraped off their itchy hides. Ticks have begun their annual life cycle by attaching themselves to any moose that wanders past. Ticks are very predatory insects that can infest a moose by the thousands. Moose will literally scratch themselves bald trying to get rid of blood-sucking ticks. Moose can be so infested that they become weak from blood loss, cold due to hair loss and sick enough to die. I have seen moose carcasses that were so sick that even scavengers would not touch them.

Bull Moose

     I finally was able to get close enough to a bull moose for some decent photos today. They are pretty skittish as two of this fellows bachelor buddies showed me. For some reason this fellow was curious enough about me to allow me into his personal safe zone. Perhaps he noticed how handicapped I appeared walking through waist high shin tangle, knowing that he could easily out distance me if he found it necessary. Moose are big animals standing over five feet at the shoulders and weighing over 700 pounds in this case. This rack, although not large in comparison to very large ones, is respectable for this area of the world. It is more than four feet wide and probably weighs more than forty pounds. In less than a month this bull will lose his antlers and begin growing a new set in time for next years rut.

White-tailed Buck in the Rut

     A bit further down the trail, I notice a white-tailed buck, neck swollen by testosterone fuelled hormones, with his nose to the ground or high in the air, hot on the trail of a sweet smelling doe. This is the one time of the year that these deer lose their cautionary survival instinct and we can be lucky enough to get close enough for a shot. Normally he would have spotted me and I would never know he was even near, but today he walked right across the trail in front of me with nothing on his mind but a sweetheart. I think I can remember what that was all about.
     These moose and the deer will be well reminded to pay attention, and perhaps that was what the other two bull moose were doing by keeping their distance. There are wolves about and they are what I think of when I think of predators. There is no doubt that they are amongst the worlds top hunters of the world but they hunt in packs most often. Most predatory birds are solitary hunters. I have seen Bald Eagles assist their mates to chase down a gull or duck but otherwise they hunt on their own or steal from smaller successful predators.
     Some days it pays to stay in bed a bit longer than usual as you never know what is happening when, in the Boreal Forest.

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No Job

     I am no longer employed by Deerland Equipment by mutual agreement. It has not been my happy place for a few months but being afraid of the unknown and self-doubts, I stayed and made a living. I really wanted to be other places. With more and more pressure to get out and find sales, talk to people. sell old customers more equipment, do more demos, sell, sell, sell, I knew I was getting outside of my comfort zone. I was offered a different position within the company but took this as a "kick in the butt" to get out and do what I have want to do. I have some ideas that I will pursue along the path I began 9 years ago. I will get back into wilderness guiding, photography and writing.
     I have learned many valuable lessons about sales and humans over the past three years. Do you ever feel like saying something to some people?

• People do not buy like I do. If I want something, I go get it. I have an idea about what I want and go find it. I will try to dicker price a bit but generally not overly successfully. I am getting ripped
• I try to purchase major items before I really need it. I don't wait until the snow is knee deep and begin my search for a snow blower. I try to purchase snow tires before the big ice storm. I try to purchase my Christmas gifts before noon on the 24th Dec. Other people don't. They will wait until the last moment and then be pissed if they can't find exactly what they want NOW! We had lots of stock yesterday
• Some customers are liars. "This tractor runs  beautifully, I just want a new one!" You hate it and you want to dump it on us!
• "What? is that all you will give me for my 1983 Massey Harry tractor that runs like a top? I haven't put a dime into her, doesn't need a thing. Don't worry about that tear in the seat, the dent in the rad, the leaking gasket, that muffler bearing is just fine, the missing grease nipple on the rad cap has been missing for a while now, just noticed!" 500.00 less
• You will never have exactly what a customer wants when he needs it yesterday. Hey jackass, we can order it for you. It's going to cost you!
• Why can't you deliver that machine to me at 8:00 tonight? Cause I have a life!
• You want how much for that mower? Are you nuts? I saw it in your flyer last week for 1/2 that! You're full of bear scat!
• Your competition has it on for 300.00 less than you. Same thing exactly! Please go buy it there then!
• I can get a Kubota for 3000.00 less! You deserve it
• I want a hat and a jacket for me and my kin folk if I buy that 300.00 used lawn mower. Go to the thrift shop
• The warranty is only 3 days passed! You could have called in when the problem first occurred and we could have covered it. 
• I will never be back if this is the kind of service I can expect from you. I thank you for that small blessing!
• The wife only drives that gator to the garden and back, It has never even seen a mud puddle! This machine is not a submarine! 
• I have to ask the wife! No Balls? (I can speak big now, as long as mine isn't here!)
• I am going to think about it. I am a gentle salesman. If you want it buy it. I am not going to hound and harass you. I am not going to kiss your butt to buy it from me! I am not going to call you at home at supper time or bed time to purchase anything. If you expect that, there is the next dealership down the road. You expressed an interest and I have given you the facts, the decision is yours now. (my downfall as a salesman)

     I am sure there are many other lessons and answers that I will think of over the next few days. I will try to add them. You are welcome to share your experiences in the comments.
     It is not all bad either. There are some great people out there if treated fairly. I will miss some of my good customers. They are working hard to get ahead and understand that two-way relationship building is important in marriages and in business.
     John Deere's do break down. They are fixable. You can get parts for them. They are expensive but you get what you pay for. If they don't work, we will make it right. If you wrecked it, you will pay. Don't lie to us, we can see what happened to cause the failure and will explain it, if it is your fault or the manufacturers fault.

I would like to thank all the great customers I had the privilege to sell a great product to. I would also like to thank Deerland and the great people dedicated to all of their customers satisfaction. I could never sell a Case or a Kubota tractor.

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Adventure, Trauma and Excitement

     I have to blame Wifey for my latest mishap. It all started off innocently enough with a visit to the dentist a couple weeks ago, which she insisted I do. He filled one and extracted one baby tooth that should have come out when I was in my teens. The bad part about it was that that tooth was one of the anchors for a partial bridge on my lower jaw. Now, with nothing to clamp onto, that clasp is just hanging there, in mid air, or, mid mouth, like a fishhook waiting for an unsuspecting, innocent fish to come by.

      Early Saturday morning, in the first snow fall, I am headed to Nordegg to do a presentation for the Junior Forest Wardens who are on a weekend camp out at wilderness camp Alexo. I had been asked by my daughter-in-law to do a show about my experience with salmon and bears. The JFWs are planning a trip on the West Coast Trail in August of 2016 so would like to be aware of some of the sights they may come across. I was happy to do it as I get to go to the west central region of Alberta for some much needed mountain time. I stopped for gas and snacks at Rocky Mtn. House before heading west toward my destination. One of the snacks I purchased was a bag of Cracker Jack which I would never do if Wifey was there to keep me on my sugar free, junk food free diet.

      “My, ain’t this real pretty” I am thinking as I am quietly driving along the empty highway, listening to staticky CFCW country radio as I motored further from its home base in Camrose.  I am watching for critters and scenery while munching away at my bag of Cracker Jack when a sudden and piercing pain struck my tongue. All chewing came to a halt. I gagged and tried to spit the half chewed Cracker Jack into my hand but my tongue won’t move. It has been impaled by the sharp bridge clasp. Talk about distracted driving for a second while I direct the car to the edge of the highway.

     I don’t know which way to take my tongue off the offending hook. I try to remember which way it curved so I could gently withdraw it from the metal trap. I can feel blood mixing into the half masticated popcorn, peanuts, candy and corn hulls. The bridge is now flopping about on my tongue mixing the mouthy mess into drool dripping from half open jaws. I get a grip on the steel bridge and attempt to empty my mouth without causing any more damage to poor tongue.

     “How come does this happen to me? Am I being punished for cheating on my diet?”

     Finally, after at least several minutes of struggle, it seems, I am finally able to free my tongue, rescue my teeth and clear my mouth of all debris. I can breathe without panic or further damage to painful tongue!

     It is Wifey’s fault, obvious as can be.

     I made it in plenty of time to find the remote camp and do some exploration before the show. I find the long abandoned town of Saunders after a quick visit to the turquoise coloured North Saskatchewan River. I enjoy my lunch while sitting alone on the bank watching the cold water flow quietly but insistently downstream. A river bank, wherever it is, is one of my favourite sit spots. I think it fuels my own envious wanderlust as I am a wanderer too. I am most happy, like the river, on the move, enjoying the journey more so than the destination, by far.

     The town was a coal mining town that was quite the happening place for several years. Now the only reminder of a town is a stone monument and a glass encased map of what it looked like. Even the railroad is gone except for the right-of-way and over-growing grade. I have to wonder how someone found the coal seam in this vast area. What if the seam had been half a mile up hill, would that wandering prospector still have found it?

Map of the coal mining ghost town of Saunders, Alberta

     There are about 80 or 90 parents, leaders and children of all ages at the presentation. This is a very involved group of people who enjoy the wilds of Alberta year around. It is not a babysitting service where you can just drop your kids off for the weekend. In this Junior Forest Wardens group, all parents are involved and helping the leaders teach valuable outdoor skills to interested youth. There are many games played, fires built, knives sharpened, scavenger hunts, meals cooked and cleaned up, wood to gather along with new friends made and respect for the environment gleaned. What a great opportunity this is for these young people away from city distractions. There are no computers, Internet or TV. Here, there is only fresh air, exercise, wilderness challenges and a badly needed Nature re-connection.

Ruffed Grouse, Not Our Dinner Today

     After a great meal of roast chicken, veggies and spuds topped off by wild berry crisp and ice cream we all went outside in the dark and drizzling rain to build a campfire. It doesn't take too long before the whole crew crowds around the blazing fire singing songs and enjoying the night. What a fantastic evening to take part in. After my presentation, I left in a heavy snow storm. I felt a bit guilty to be heading to a nice warm, dry motel room while most of the crew would be sleeping in smokey teepee's.

     The next morning I woke up and looked out to about 4 inches of fresh snow. I heard about it later from my son. Everyone survived, albeit a bit damp, smoked and chilly. Memories and adventure for all.

     The snow was not Wifey's fault!

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Spectacular Sockey

     There are few migrations that are so valuable to such a wide variety of benefactors as the salmon return to their natal river. It is one of natures great annual events but even more spectacular than usual every four years. 2014 is one of these highlight years so we decided to drive to world famous Adams River, B.C. to witness one of Mother Nature's miracles.

Male and Female Sockeye Salmon

     Several million sockeye salmon (onchorinchus nerka) have made the hazardous journey up the Fraser River and South Thompson River into Shushwap Lake. They then move into the Adams River and Adams lake where they will each lay and fertilise up to 4000 eggs before dying. Once the adult salmon have left the Pacific Ocean and began the 800 kilometre journey to the lakes, they stop eating, surviving on the fat reserves stored in their bodies. Hormones triggered by the fresh water begin a major body transformation making a spawning salmon unrecognisable from the bright silver adults that enter the river. The dead salmon have transferred their body weight of nutrients  from the ocean environment where they grew up to the lake, river and forest environments of their birth. These rich nutrients will feed everything from microscopic plankton to wildlife such as bears, mink, otters, ducks and eagles to fertiliser for the forest aligning the rivers and lakes.

Providing for the Future

     I have seen pink, coho, chum and chinook spawning migrations in the past but this is the first sockeye spawn I have seen. They have transformed from gleaming silver to bright red with green head colours. The males have developed long, hooked jaws which they use to bite competing males who want to fertilise female spawn as they are squirted into the gravel redds.
     An odour of rotting fish is noticeable as we wander the pathways of Roderick-Haig- Brown Provincial Park which contains the Adams River. We have arrived just as the gates opened to allow visitors to this site. We enjoy relatively light trail competion and are able to spend quiet time observing the fish. We watch as fishermen wade the river fly fishing for trout. I wonder if they are damaging delicate redds in the river but there are no wardens around chasing them from the cool clear river. By late afternoon, we are tuckered out and satisfied with our adventure but wishing for a more solitary experience. As we make our way to the car, we are amazed by hordes of people crowding the visitor reception and vendor area. I am happy to see that so many people are interested in this spectacle which bodes well for salmon as a whole.
     The next morning, we left before daylight hoping to find a river where there are not so many people. We had a hint as we drove toward our destination the day before as we were forced to weave our way through a "salmon jam" on the highway at the base of Roger's Pass. We drove down a short section of former highway to a very secluded, quiet place beside the Eagle River. The water was more clear and much colder and contained almost as many determined sockey. We enjoyed a couple hours of total solitude in the company of the fish, the forest and a family of bald eagles. What a perfect way to salute the salmon.

Eagles Misty Roost

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Realtree 3-D Poncho Coyote Feast

     I get up early to go to work so it is even better to get up early to go to play. I headed out to my favourite park for an early morning stroll hoping to see some moose, hear elk bugling or whatever might be happening today. The morning was chilly, not freezing as a very light west wind rattled the golden leaves still clinging to their aspen trees.  The rustling leaves and damp ground helped muffle my steps as I headed down the dark trail. The eastern sky was lightening with a faint reddish blush as high overhead I could hear geese making their way to an early whole grain breakfast. What a great day to be able.

     A moose is browsing on twigs and underbrush as I pause for a look. This cow moose is accompanied by a calf eating nearby, then another grazing a bit further off. Twin calves are most common and these all looked very healthy and ready for the rigours of winter.

     I was wearing a new Realtree camouflage 3-D leafy poncho so did not seem to worry the moose as normal. Interesting, I thought, will see if other critters act differently too. I don’t walk fast on these nature hikes. I like to walk and pause and sit down for a few minutes just to see or hear what is happening around me. I like to watch the sun light the tops of the trees before it peers over the horizon. The golden leaves are even more golden with the first morning light and they whisper and twitter at each other like girls primping for a date. Chickadees, nuthatches and juncos flit through the underbrush and scamper up the sides of aspen tree boles searching for their breakfast as well. Off in the far distance I can hear ravens and magpies squawking and squabbling over some found feast so will have to watch for that.

Juicy, Tart Cranberries

     I love the smell of the autumn forest. Tart, post frost high-bush cranberries (makes my spit run to think of them), damp and rotting aspen and poplar leaves and buds sweeten the occasional bison patty and moose droppings. With the light breeze mixing and blending the wild raw ingredients there is created a natural “eau de bush” which comes in many essences depending upon the location of the trail and quantity of ingredients.

     I am mesmerised by golden sun beams shining through the forest, lighting dark red rosebushes, many still green aspen tree leaves as well as many shades of grey and taupe coloured tree stems.

     “Why?”  I ask myself, “Do some aspen trees still have green leaves while some are golden and others are already stripped naked? Is it location, micro-climate, genetics, light, shade, wind exposure, dirt, health, water availability, age or whatever combination of all of above?” There are always more questions than answers. Everything is not created equally in the bush either. 

     Further down the leaf littered trail squabbling ravens are more noticeable as are the squawking magpies. About one hundred yards off the trail to the west, I see many flighty scavengers flitting in and out and around the bush. Some seem to be landing onto an unseen runway while others perch on branches in observation or waiting mode.  My curiosity makes me question these events so I quietly make my way in for a look. I have three things going for me today; I am heading up wind, the sun is at my back and I am wearing my new camouflage suit. I follow a little used game trail for a ways then have to veer off through the brush that tugs quietly at my Realtree poncho.

Coyote on Bison Kill

I pause often, listening and watching the actions of the birds. I find a dead log lying amongst the shin tangle that gives me a bit of elevation and makes for a quieter pathway leading in the right direction. I hold onto some brush for balance as I slowly make my way toward a standing tree where I pause and lean against for a brace. I can see part of a coyote working away on a dark coloured corpse that I assume is a moose. As I snap a few pictures another coyote appears which causes the first to snarl a warning to stay back. I want to get closer if I can but knowing how skittish a coyote can be I am hesitant. I wait until the coyote’s head is buried in the carcass and I step down from my perch trying to be as quiet and stealthy as I can. The brush tugs at my poncho as I slowly move toward another dead log. The coyote looks up often, perhaps sensing something, but the meal is more important. I step up onto a second log but it is very wobbly so I am pretty tentative as I slide sideways carefully.

Suspicious Coyote

I spot a third coyote head peering through the brush watching some apparition wobbling sideways so I pause. This suspicious coyote is unsure so it ducks back out of sight. I am finally able to make it to another standing tree that I can lean against and support my camera. I am within 25 yards and can see most of the kill tucked down into a small clearing.

     For the next hour and a half I watch quietly from my precarious perch. The log I am standing on is rotten so every time I relieve one leg to the other, I feel it give way. I am expecting it to crack and dump me into the brush but it never did. The kill is directly upwind from my position so I am getting the full benefit of “eau de rot gut” so not only am I camouflaged by sight but my body odour is also masked downwind. I hope I am not going to carry this essence home with me. Wifey may not find it very appealing. I am also watching carefully for a bear that should be attracted by the scent. I do see that the dead beast is actually a bison, perhaps a year or so old.

     I am sure the coyotes were suspicious of the strange creature observing their actions but they never got so concerned that their meal was interrupted. I am fairly positive that without the camouflaged 3-D poncho I never would have approached so near.

     What an honor it is for me to be able to spend so much time in such close proximity to these wary coyotes. Even the skittish magpies did not seem to mind my close intrusion.

     On my way out of the forest I happened upon another moose. I thought I would check out to see its reaction to a close encounter. I was slow and methodical as I circled to try to find a position that I could get a photo through all the brush. I was watched very closely but the moose never took a step. I finally found a spot where I could see the glint of its eye with the sun behind my back that I could snap a few photos. I thanked the moose as I backed off and went on my way.

Cautious Moose

     I did get a bit of a strange reaction from three women who came jogging down the trail. They seemed more concerned than the moose or the coyotes but they did safely pass by with some relief. I will definitely be using this 3-D poncho for stalking and photographing wildlife in the future. I will not be using it if I ever have to stalk the elusive and discerning human female!

Snow Goose Migration

     What a great day! Life is good! What great fun!

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Snow Goose Migration Stopover

        It looked like snow covering a pond, but this is early autumn and 16 degrees. We are in the midst of beautiful “Indian summer” harvesting weather with a brisk west wind blowing. Snow doesn’t trumpet either. This pond is covered by thousands of resting Snow geese, Ross’s Geese and a few dark morphed “blue geese.” There are some Canada geese and Greater white-fronted and ducks as well. These geese are resting for the afternoon after feeding on surrounding fields of harvested wheat and peas. Hundreds of small flocks and family groups have gathered at this pond just a few miles east of Edmonton. It reminds me of a convention or large family reunion. The hubbub of hundreds and thousands of geese catching up on all the news and gossip from the past year is comparable to our own gatherings. Flock after flock fly in to land amongst the larger flotilla. Each new flock glides in gently, upwind, to splash down in tiny gaps to join the greater convention. The flock gently drifts with the wind toward the east and south side of the pond. Some of the geese sleep with head tucked under wing, bobbing along with the windy flow while others bathe, splash and prune. Many wander up onto the muddy beach to rest or gather grit to refill their gizzard.

Plenty of Room For All

     A lone coyote glances hungrily at the mob as it wanders along the shoreline and cows graze in the surrounding pasture as geese and ducks land continuously while gulls, ravens, magpies and even a Northern Harrier fly over with little notice from the flock. All at once there is a massive explosion as every goose leaps off the water with frantic wings and deafening screams of alarm. How do they not collide with one another? Higher and higher they lift then circle overhead and around the pond wailing and crying fearfully the whole while.

Organised Panic

     I look around to see what caused the mass panic but notice nothing; “wait, what is that black spot?” Far overhead soars a lone bald eagle, circling on thermals and invisible up drafts, drifting east with the breeze. The eagle drifts along, nonchalantly, as only a great predator can.

Lone Hunter

      “Did every goose see that tiny spot and recognise it as danger at the same moment? Was there a telegraphed alarm signal passed on by sentry geese?” What fantastic eye sight they have. I have seen this happen before in other places. Flocks of gulls will often panic as will some ducks when an eagle passes overhead.

     “Will an eagle do this just because he can or is it looking for a slow or wounded laggard?” Many times, I have witnessed eagles hunting birds such as gulls, ducks and I once watched one take a Canada goose. After several attempts at killing the goose from the air, the eagle landed on the water and swam to shore with the badly wounded goose. Once it had landed the meal, another pair of eagles challenged the hunter and took over from the tuckered warrior.

I looked behind me as I was about to leave and spotted the earlier coyote hunting for mice ssince he couldn't get a goose. I was just in time to miss the classic coyote pounce but did catch this celebratory wag.

Happy Meal

     The large flock action was a spectacular sight to witness on this beautiful autumn day. These are the WOW moments I live for and that happen every day if you are lucky enough to be able to spend time with Nature whenever possible.

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