I guess fall is finally here – the days are shorter, the air is cooler, and the Canada Geese are everywhere. I love geese – not the domestic ones, they’re too mean; it’s the grey and black and brown and white Canada
Geese that have won my heart. I’m not sure why I find them so fascinating; perhaps it’s because they are so beautiful, or perhaps it’s because I once read somewhere that they mate for life. Whatever the reason, I find myself watching them as they fly overhead; always in their “v” formation; always honking; a wonder to behold.
Geese that have won my heart. I’m not sure why I find them so fascinating; perhaps it’s because they are so beautiful, or perhaps it’s because I once read somewhere that they mate for life. Whatever the reason, I find myself watching them as they fly overhead; always in their “v” formation; always honking; a wonder to behold.
Chuck took this picture on one of his canoe trips!
As I drive back and forth to work everyday, I pass a small pond not far from the road. Every now and then a flock of geese will stop for a short time and swim and eat some grass; I always enjoy seeing them as I drive by. Imagine my surprise as I drove by one day last summer and noticed only one goose in the pond. I slowed down, hoping to see other geese nearby, but there was not another goose in sight. I was worried. I knew that geese traveled in flocks, but I also knew that if one was injured, another goose stayed with the injured goose until it died or was able to fly again. My husband said that I shouldn’t worry; that it would be fine, but I wasn’t so sure. Each day as I drove by, there was only one goose, until one day a second goose appeared, and she wasn’t alone – four fuzzy little goslings were waddling behind her! My spirits were lifted that day and every day for the rest of the summer as the goslings grew and grew until I couldn’t tell the babies from the adults. One day they were gone; I missed seeing them as I drove by each day, but I knew it was the way it should be.
One week old
I was awed by that family of geese. The experience made me remember something I had read about Canada Geese years ago. I had even saved the article; it was about a speech given by Angeles Arrien at the 1991 Organizational Development Network; it was called “Lessons from Geese” and was based on the work of Milton Olson. In the speech, Arrien mentions “facts” about geese and relates them to people. She talked about geese flying in a “V” formation and how the formation gives the geese greater flying range; just like people who work together and share a common purpose and find the job much easier to accomplish. She also talked about the “lead” goose getting tired and rotating back into the formation so that another goose can take his place. Isn’t it better when people take turns and share leadership responsibilities? And what about her reference to geese honking to encourage the others to keep up their speed? Isn’t it better if we offer encouragement to others?
So, as we try teach our children about the world we live in why not take some time and share with them the wonderful world of Canada Geese. Two of my favorite children’s books are about Canada Geese; The Way Home by Nan Parson Rossiter, and Goose’s Story by Cari Best. Both books are great resources, not just for learning about Canada Geese, but for learning about perseverance, diversity, and compassion. We are fortunate to live in an area where children can see and hear the geese for themselves; giving us a perfect opportunity to teach some valuable life lessons. Who would have thought that we could learn so much from geese?
