Field Notes on Geese: Observe and Protect

When the noise of populated areas quieted during the pandemic, wildlife crept back to urban areas. We responded with many a delighted posting on social media. Can we harness that delight to slow down, observe and protect wildlife or will we turn our backs again on these gifts as we return to our urban lives?

Guidelines for Building and Sustaining Connections with Other Creatures

I turned off most of my science brain from spring to fall this year and simply observed, listened to, and photographed the ubiquitous and much maligned Canada geese in my neighbourhood. This slow, considered set of activities can help reinforce our connection with wildlife, increase its value and hence increase our investment in healing the earth.

1. Pick a species to observe- birds are good or trees. Something easy to find in your neighbourhood or somewhere you go often.

2. Watch, walk, listen, observe, record, photograph. I used my phone camera and voice recorder as I wandered along the bank of the steam near my condo to record what the geese were doing, where they were going, what they looked like, who was part of the group.

3. Observe the rhythm of their lives – where and when do they eat, sleep? do they have young? Where do they gather? How do they react to humans? How do they care for their young?

4. Delight in these observations, analysis is for another day as is Google which can spoil the surprises.

5. Think about how you feel now having observed your species. How would you feel if the species was no longer there? What surprised you? What was new to you? What would you tell someone else about the species? Do you want to learn more?

6. Make some art. Tell people your stories about the species – listen to theirs. Most people here have stories about close encounters with geese or geese crossing the roads or goose poop.