That’s the facts folks …

I’ve been walking through Council Point Park the past week or so, looking left and right for nests where the Canada Geese might be sitting on their eggs. About a month ago, I searched the past year’s blog posts to refresh my memory when those goslings may be visible and Mother’s Day seemed to be the target date for their debut.

Well, it looks like I get a big goose egg for my estimations, since we are beyond mere goose eggs …the young ‘uns have done hatched, and left the nest for goodness sake! This morning I glimpsed one set of proud parents, with five fuzzy goslings in tow, near the banks of the Ecorse Creek.  I barely saw them since they were nestled near the dried up reeds, which provided an excellent camouflage for moving their youngsters around.  That is, except I heard some honking that quickly grabbed my attention and I was lucky enough to see the whole family.

I got the camera ready, but they remained close to the banks of the Creek, and, due to the recent rain, it was a little muddy in that area, and I sure didn’t want to lose my footing and land in the cold and murky water.

But, I was persistent and kept the camera handy, and my patience intact, while silently sliding behind a tree, still hoping to get a good shot for today’s blog post.

However that idea was quickly quashed once a couple of squirrels came bounding over for peanuts. I whispered “shhhh” but those words would not quell their enthusiasm.  After a few cute poses, sitting on haunches and wistful looks, they were ready to scale up my ankles in their quest for a treat, so I was forced to dig into my pocket, fumble with the Ziploc zipper and grab some peanuts to toss out to them.  I quickly resumed my stance, but those squirrels had blown my cover once the plastic bag had rustled and startled the parents.  One goose looked right at me as you see in this picture.  Unfortunately, the goslings were lined up along the reeds at the Creek bank, clearly out of sight.

I’m sure there will be plenty more opportunities to see those goslings and get some cute photos of them.

Meanwhile, there are (or soon will be) babies again at my neighbor Marge’s house, and, if she doesn’t already know this fact, she will after she reads this post.

After my walk, as I was opening the door to go inside, a wren’s sweet warble pierced the quiet morning. I listened appreciably, as their birdsong is one of my favorites since it is so melodic and strong for such a tiny bird.  I saw a pair of wrens perched near Marge’s decorative birdhouse.  Those wrens were so tiny and delicate, and, if I’d have blinked, I might have missed the one that disappeared right into the hole near the roof.  Soon thereafter, another wren followed suit, but this one had some dried grass hanging from its long beak.  Home sweet home!

It sure may not feel like Spring to us, but to Mother Nature’s critters, it is a season for starting a family and raising a brood, whether that locale is a rustic nest by a murky creek, or a tall, white wooden birdhouse with a half-dozen entry holes, a mere six feet from a homeowner’s door wall

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

[excerpted from Mrs. Cecil Alexander’s “Hymns for Little Children”]