Well I had a little fun with this blog post title. Terri’s Challenge this week is the word “flight” but we’ll get to that topic in just a minute. First, I have an update on the “plight” of the Canada Geese here in Michigan that I wrote about in my Earth Day post.
You may recall that Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) planned a mass extermination of Canada Geese in some areas where they were/are considered a nuisance and, rather than relocate the geese and their families, they decided to eliminate them in a cruel manner. The DNR planned to wait until June when the adult geese begin to molt and are without their flight feathers, leaving them unable to fly away from predators. Predators in this case would be humans trying to corral the geese and put them into a gas chamber where they would gasp for air for a half-hour or more before finally succumbing. Not only would the geese be cruelly executed in this manner, but first their goslings would be separated from them. In my recent posts, you all saw the looks I get from the gander when I approached his Missus on a nest incubating future goslings. Or what about if I stray too close to those offspring? Canada Geese are not only devoted parents, but devoted to each other as well … they mate for life.
So, this week I learned that Michigan’s Canada Geese are getting a reprieve until next year and you know why? This happened because many nature-loving humans rose to the occasion and put up a good “fight” to save the Canada geese. They did this by erecting a billboard on a busy expressway, writing to voice their complaints to the Governor, the DNR and other animal rights organizations. By combining forces with other nature lovers in this worthy cause, the Canada Geese parents and their offspring will live … for now anyway.
Hopefully the Michigan DNR will decide that even if we humans are unable to live in harmony, at least we can co-exist with our feathered friends.
Now, on to the topic of “flight”.
When Terri posted her Photo Challenge for May 18th, I knew exactly what tale and photos I would use. I still have several 2024 excursions that I have not rolled out yet and this is one of them.
This walk was taken on September 5, 2024, a few days after Labor Day.
After a steamy and sultry Summer, the weather forecasters promised a few days of uncharacteristically cooler, almost October-like weather. I was pleased and set off to Lake Erie Metropark.
When I arrived there, however, the car’s temperature gauge read 70F (21C) and it was 81F (27C) when I left at noon – hmm. Obviously the weather folks’ version of a “coolish” day and mine differed immensely – just sayin’.
I pulled into the nearby fire station parking lot but saw no Osprey family tucked into their nest on the siren, so maybe heading out I’d have more luck.
I made a quick stop at the Offshore Fishing Bridge, but once again the Sandhill Cranes were MIA.
Perhaps the third stop would be the charm?
As I drove along the bend to the Marshlands Museum to park, I noticed an abundance of Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets congregating in the large marshy area a/k/a Riley Creek, so I parked the car near the museum and hurriedly walked back. I know in the past, these wading birds are very “flighty” in that one moment they may be standing contentedly fixated on a fish, then a noise will startle them and they all take flight to the trees. So I hoped no large trucks or motorcycle motors would spook them.
But alas, this time it was ME that spooked them with my presence and a few flew up, not to the trees, but across the road to the other side of the marsh. I just walked across the road and it was better as the marsh water was cleaner. This Egret stayed the longest, but was fickle, moving from one area to another – was he/she looking for a better fishing spot, or simply evading me? Or both? It finally took flight leaving me standing there camera in hand.
I got several photos of Herons and Egrets from the street, then decided to walk along the Trapper’s Run Trail.
I don’t walk this one-mile trail very often, but there are multiple overlooks to get different views of the marshes along the way.
Of those overlook views, my favorite is the Riley Creek Overlook which juts out into Riley Creek.
Enroute to the Riley Creek Overlook, it was warming up considerably, with an almost tropical feel which seemed perfect to enjoy the pretty Pond Lilies, like this one.
I saw lots of Lily pads, a few with blooms, but zero frogs on those pads.
The Purple Loosestrife was colorful as it lined the edges of the entrance to the Riley Creek Overlook.
Those pretty flowers helped counteract the ugly-looking green goo that had formed on the surface of the water.
I got in a few shots of the Herons and Egrets, their eyes trained on the murky water for their breakfast.
But not long after my arrival, just as in the past, a huge truck hauling a pontoon boat, rumbled along the Metropark vehicle road and the birds began to take flight. I’m not always swift enough to capture them in flight, but since there was so many, I did luck out … somewhat. Usually, once they fly up to the trees, they remain there, so I then move on.
On this trip, the Egrets and Herons seemed to be restless, flying from one side of the marsh to the other, then returning near the Riley Creek Overlook, a few minutes later.
Here are some photos of one of the Great Egrets …
… and its cousin the Great Blue Heron.
I took enough photos and the sun was climbing higher in the sky, not only making me warmish, but making it even more problematic to take photos, so I finished this trail and was happy to head to the Cherry Island Trail, which was shadier (in a good way) and that portion of this excursion will be a future post.
As mentioned above, I am joining Terri’s Sunday Stills Photo Challenge: Flight.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Wow, Linda, your egrets and herons caught in flight are stunning! What a thrill! I’m glad the Canada geese were spared. How horrible to think they could be gassed! Your images are all so sharp and clear, too. Most waterfowl mate for life, as well as many birds. There is nothing worse than seeing a perplexed bird hovering over it’s downed mate. 🥺 Great post my friend!
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Thank you Terri! I knew I had these photos from that walk and the post would have been so long otherwise if I did a post on the entire walk, so this was perfect for the topic “Flight”. The egrets and herons were really restless that day, so I was running back and forth trying to photograph them. I’m glad the poor geese were spared. There are other options and the park where I walk all the time used to spray with a grape extract which numbs the area around their bill temporarily, so they leave and graze elsewhere. Yes, it’s very sad to watch two birds of any type when their mate is ill. Did you happen to see the video of the reunion of the Trumpeter Swans in Canada? One of them was being rehabbed and when they were reunited, there was much honking-type noise and wing-flapping when they saw their mate again. It is quite the feel-good video.
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No I didn’t see the video, Linda, but I can imagine. ❤️🦆
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It was heartwarming Terri. I’ll send it to you in a separate comment.
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Here you are Terri … it’s a fairly short video, but worth a look and will give you a smile.
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Nothing is attached.
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Hmm – that’s odd Terri … it does appear on my site if you look: https://lindaschaubblog.net/2025/05/18/plight-fight-and-flight/
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I see it now, I’m using Jetpack, it didn’t show it at the time for some reason.
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The Egrets and Herons flying are so good Linda 😀
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Thank you Brian! It is amazing to me, with the Heron especially, how this rather gawky-looking bird looks so graceful in flight.
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First, I’m very glad they won’t be gassing any geese! And your photos of the herons and egrets in flight are so majestic. 👌 It’s wonderful that you have so many beautiful parks in your area. Lots of photo ops!
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I’m so glad about the geese being spared the gassing too Debbie. I never learned about them being spared on the news, which I find odd. I don’t have a TV, but I follow an AM all-news station and the news sites on social media and they kept writing about the DNR and their plans, yet nothing about them being spared, which details I learned on Michigan Duck Rescue & Sanctuary, a Facebook site I follow and non-profit I like. They kept their followers apprised of where to write, watch a Zoom call about the plans, etc., even donate to Changedotorg for helping thwart the gassing efforts. I hope that’s the end of that cruel idea. Thank you – I’m glad you like the shots. They were zooming all over the marsh that day as anything spooks them, the camera shutter, the smallest noise and they bolt, but they look so majestic when they fly. I am lucky we have so many parks and near the water in my area for photo ops. There are even more Metroparks in other counties not all that far – 25 to 30 miles away.
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I am very glad people stood up to this nonsense that they were planning on doing to the geese. Hopefully they do it again when it comes up to stop them. I am always amazed at how many parks you have in your area. A nature lovers paradise. 🙂
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I am glad too Sandra. Everyone banded together to save the geese after the DNR announced what they would be doing. It is cruel how they wanted to gas them and I hope next year, they come up with a better plan, like removing them to another area in Michigan. I know they can easily fly back to the area, but if you take them far enough away, they can acclimate and stay there. There are a lot of nice parks, especially shoreline parks, around here. I don’t go on this trail too often because a big snake slithered just in front of my feet once. I had put the camera away as I saw the parking lot, so there it was … maybe more afraid of me than I was of it, but not sure about that. 🙂
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You did have many birds in flight! Well done!
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Thank you Anne! They were all over the place that day!
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First, I loved the photos of birds in flight. Seeing flight is always amazing to me.
I am sympathetic to those who are overrun with geese, but I would think that a hunting season for geese would be a better overall to cull the excess numbers.
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Thank you JP! It always amazes me how gawky looking the herons are, yet in flight they look so streamlined once they take off. Where do these tuck in those magnificent-looking wingspans?
I would think there is a better solution too. The simplest is spraying the grass with a grape extract like they’ve done at Council Point Park for years in the Summer through Fall. The potion dries on the grass, but the geese get a numbing effect around their bill, so they go elsewhere. The geese that were to be exterminated were not going to be used as food, for food pantries or otherwise which is a waste.
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They did something to discourage Canadian geese in one of our parks but not sure what. They did not kill them, just discouraged them from staying there.
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I wonder if it is the same as they did at Council Point Park for years? They sprayed the grounds with a grape extract which numbs around the bill of the geese as they graze. It is only temporary but it is enough of an irritant that they move on to another grazing area or park. They did this all Summer to discourage any geese as there are softball fields, soccer fields, picnic areas and the walking path nearby. Our geese paddled down to the Detroit River once they start molting for about six weeks, so even less geese are there.
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I saw that they decided not to euthanize the geese and was wondering if you saw it. Hopefully they come up with something else.
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Hi Ruth – I didn’t hear anything on the radio, nor news sites I follow (I don’t have TV), but I saw it on a site I follow “Michigan Duck Rescue & Sanctuary” which was helping to spur people to contact authorities and protest against killing the geese like this. I hope they forget about doing this by next year after all the pushback.
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I saw an online article by Detroit Free Press.
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Okay, thanks Ruth. I had wondered why I didn’t see anything as I follow several news sites online and listen to WWJ as well. I thought of you today Ruth as it is “World Bee Day”.
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Linda, I enjoyed seeing your egrets taking flight.
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Thank you TD – I am glad you enjoyed the photos. I am amazed how graceful these birds are in flight, especially the heron, which looks so scrawny when it is standing.
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I’m glad the nature lovers won out over the DNR. There is no need to be cruel.
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I am too Linda – the nature lovers really pushed back at the DNR. It was beyond cruel what they intended to do to the geese.
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Great photos! I’m glad the Canada geese got a reprieve, I know they can be annoying but they have the right to live too. You have nice areas to walk!
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Thanks Susan! It was a busy day at the marsh for herons and egrets. I’m glad the Canada geese got a reprieve too. I hope the DNR does not change its mind by next year. There are other ways to keep the geese at bay without killing them in such a cruel manner. There are a lot of shoreline parks around here and even more than I don’t frequent!
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Sounds like a fun walk, Linda. It’s always fun to spot the egrets and the herons.
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Yes, it was Rebecca – they were all over and are such pretty birds when they take flight.
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Really wonderful photos of the egrets and herons, Linda. We rarely see egrets here, but the herons live here year round.
Glad they gave the geese a reprieve and hope they come to their senses!
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Thank you Eilene! We have egrets and herons in most of our marshes and they are plentiful. They are very graceful in flight.
I am glad the DNR gave the geese a reprieve and I hope that is the end of this plan and it is not revived in 2026.
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Wow, what a lovely photography. Wonderful all photos. It’s wonderful that you have so many beautiful parks in your area. Lots of photo. I’m glad the poor geese were spared. lots of Lily pads, a few with blooms, but zero frogs on those pads. I fully enjoyed your sharing plight, fight & flight with lovely nature photos,Linda ☺️
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Thank you Raj – I am glad you enjoyed the post.
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Most welcome ,Linda 😄
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You snapped some amazing photos. I know I’ve seen egrets and herons but never tried to photograph them. Happy to read that the Canada geese are safe for a while longer.
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Thank you Ally, it was a good day for egrets and herons. They spook easily so if they don’t see me I luck out. I’m pleased the Canada geese are safe for awhile longer. It’s too bad that the DNR wants to take such extreme measures to eradicate these birds but luckily, enough nature lovers rallied and prevailed.
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Score one for the nature lovers raising their voices and saving the geese from a cruel end. I hope the effort will keep the execution at bay for more than a year. There’s got to be a kinder way to deal with the problem. I like the Riley Creek overlook, what a great spot to take pictures from. Nice to get a great blue heron and a great egret in the same shot! It does look like it was a hot and very sunny day.
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I was very pleased to read that the geese were spared this cruel end Barbara. It was nice to see so many nature lovers rally together for a good cause. There are other methods that will not involve killing the geese, so I hope those options are considered in 2026. That Riley Creek overlook is a great place to go for heron and egret shots as they all hang out there. There was another photo op in the same marsh that day as a deer was munching on Lotus leaves and that will be my post for this week’s Wordless Wednesday. I’ve seen that happen before and had photos in a blog post once, but it is funny to see since it is forbidden for humans to pick Lotus leaves or take seed pods as they are protected and the deer is just munching away. It was a very hot day, despite their weather forecast and I think that accounts for a lot of green algae on the marsh surface.
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Killing geese (or any animal) is a lazy solution to a complex problem and It’s only complex because humans are involved!
Our species impinges upon Nature in a multitude of ways instead of living within it.
The more of us,…..the less of them.
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You’re so right Wayne – how unfair to our feathered friends if the humans don’t take the time to implement a way of solving the problem first and if that way/plan doesn’t work out, then think about a “Plan B” instead of rushing headlong and worrying about the consequences later.
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You got some lovely flight shots Linda…..I love the blue herons and the egrets, (we don’t have them around here), but wow, I had no idea re the Canadian Geese. Yes, they are a pain and overpopulated, but that kind of cull seems unnecessarily cruel. It was so cold today, but I planted anyway. My gardener was here doing the grass, so I took advantage of his help. But I moved all the pots and planters into the garage for the night, as there is no warmth in sight.
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Thank you Joni! They are beautiful birds, especially in flight. The herons are only about five pounds and look so scrawny sometimes, but in flight appear so streamlined.
It is so cold and ugly here and that began yesterday and the rain this afternoon going now through Saturday. This is not a nice Spring at all … the rare sunny days are usually with gusty winds. Today I had errands a good part of the day and it was – 25 mph wind gusts. You are industrious, planting last Friday and now today with your gardener. These are all annuals? I know you said a few of your roses may need help. I remember those days of buying flats and waiting until our Memorial Day to plant (if it was warm enough) and before work and leaving on the bus, I was trotting them all out onto the back porch and watering them, then putting them back in the garage every night.
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No we were planting perennials as I wanted them in the ground to take advantage of the spring rains. 3 Rosebushes, lilac bush, 3 dogwoods. He had to move the forsythia to make room for those. Plus he put up the trellis for me and the table umbrella and put the birdbath and bench out etc – all the things that are too heavy for me to lift. We did some ground planting too, of the stuff I bought at the plant sale but they were all cheap so I don’t care if they survive. My lettuce and tomatoes have been in for weeks. I did my pots last Friday the only warm day we had, as the forecast was supposed to be warm, but then it wasn’t, so I’ve been taking them in and out of the garage – and I guess I will be for the next week as the forecast for next weekend is 2 C overnight! We ran out of time, so next week I think we might tear the old lavender out and put new in, and plant the gladiolas. But that’s it – I’m not spending any more! I bought the geranium hanging pots but I do my own Dipladenias as they are way too expensive to buy in pot form $40 vs. $16 if I buy them separately and do my own. What did you decide to do to your garden?
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You are much more industrious than me Joni. I decided after we had the brutal Polar Vortex and four very brutally cold stretches I was not going to plant anything, even though I intended to as of last Fall when the rest of the debris from the downed wire fire and the old wooden landscape ties were removed. I’m now sorry I didn’t have sod laid instead of doing the cement retainer wall and mulch, but that’s what I did and I wanted a chunkier mulch which this is not and I can see the landscape fabric through it already, so I have to get another load put down. I once ordered 36 bags of mulch from a local landscaper and did it myself, rather than getting a load of it in the driveway, but I put the bags on the back patio after they were delivered on a Tuesday to do over Memorial Day and when I moved the bags, the patio was running with Carpenter ants. I was afraid they’d come into the house – we had Carpenter ants for years after our two backyard Oak tree became diseased and the ants got into the house and made a nest. So I’d get a load now. I have not bought any annuals – we have had very cold temps today (low 50s) and all week and this persistent rain. I had heard we would have a very rainy Spring and a very hot Summer, hot like 2024, so I was reluctant to plant any annuals in baskets/pots either. I was making my own hanging baskets too in the end as you can pick your own plants and it is cheaper.
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It’s cold here too, another miserable rainy day, a bit warmer by the weekend with some sun. I stayed in and worked on a book review for next week – It took much longer than I thought – I think I’ve forgotten how to write… I figure if I’m going to be home all summer I want it to look pretty….and it does so far, lots of pink which always cheers me up.
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At least the sun was out today, even if just for a few hours, it was welcome. I did my post for Sunday on Wednesday so I could work on my last assignment in the course. I apologize for being behind. I’m behind in French lessons too. I thought my post would just be short and it was, kind of, around 900 words does seem short to me and you too. I will look forward to your book review. I am behind in reading too. I think I read three books in three months, so I have to adjust my Goodreads goal … again.
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We only had 5 minutes of sun, then it rained again. I worked on my book review, but it’s taken about 5 hours already – way too long, but I felt I had to cover the topic adequately. I haven’t even been to Reader, maybe tomorrow.
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I don’t know, but the days are going by so quickly. I still haven’t replied to your e-mail and I wanted to send you three paintings I did this week. The class is now over and I sent all nine paintings I did last week to Julia last night. I walked a lot today because unbelievably the third week in a row, we are having the same type of weather scenario – it rains in the afternoon/evening Tuesday and then for the rest of the week. So I got out to Lake Erie Metropark again today and got a lot of pictures … I thought of you as I saw a log with so many turtles I couldn’t count them. There were branches up in the air and they were sunning on there.
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I used the link to get to your post where I could see the video. So heartwarming to see this. Amazing! ❤️
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I’m glad you could see the video Terri. I didn’t think about you using a phone to access the link (as I don’t use a phone for WP). I knew you’d find it heartwarming and a beautiful testament to their love for each other.
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such a fun title that you broke down into this nature post. I enjoyed every single photo and really like the open-winged action shots with all the originality and love the way it flows as we walked with you – and smiled to imagine you spook the bird s- and then felt very happy that the fight paid off – and “by combining forces with other nature lovers in this worthy cause, the Canada Geese parents and their offspring.”
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Thank you Yvette! I am glad you liked this post and I was eager to relay the happy news about the reprieve given to the poor geese as many people expressed sadness and surprise in the earlier post that the DNR would take such drastic measures to reduce the geese population. In fact today, in the news, many of the same nature lovers who went to bat for the geese, are now taking up the plight of local deer for which the DNR and city officials have slated for sharpshooters to cull the herds in three cities next January. One woman who was interviewed said “well look what we did for the geese – we will do likewise for the deer!” I am glad you felt like you were walking along with me, through the highs and lows of taking pictures of these beautiful birds in motion.
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Very well done Linda! Those picture in flight are so good!!!! I’m happy to hear the geese have more time.
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Thank you Diane! I usually don’t get that lucky with multiple photos of the herons and egrets taking off, but there were so many of them in the marsh and at Riley Creek that day. I am happy about the geese too and I hope they come up with a better solution by next year. Today, some people who pushed for the geese to be saved have announced they will be pushing for the deer to be saved as three cities in Oakland County (not near me) have agreed to start culling the herds by sharpshooters next January. Someone in the meeting said they kept the geese from being killed, so they will fight for the deer now.
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You got some wonderful shots of the birds and the photo of the wooden overlook path is nice: so serene.
Thank you for sharing the uplifting story of how the geese were spared this year.
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Thank you Esther! I always like serene on the trail and I was happy to see all the herons and egrets. I stopped going on this trail after I saw a huge snake a few years ago. I was happy to read that the geese were spared this year and hoping this becomes a permanent reprieve for them. Now the DNR and three cities have set their sights on culling the herds of deer using a sharpshooter beginning next January and every January. The homes there are large and are not fenced in, plus they are often near the water. Some people who rallied for the geese now plan to rally for the deer.
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Oh dear, that is serious about culling the deer herds with a sharpshooter. I hope the rallying will spare the deer too.
Please stay safe on your walks. I know you are very vigilant but still you want to stay away from wild animals.
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I hope they rally for the deer’s cause too Esther. Funny you mention being careful of the wild animals because I was back at this park today and I saw a racoon. That’s a first for me at this park but I know they have them in the other Metroparks. It was in a tree and stuck up there and having difficulty getting down. I was sorry I arrived after the initial commotion had died down – a woman was photographing the racoon and said it seemed to be a baby and didn’t know how to climb down the tree and the tree was dead … I’ll bet the branches were creaking as it stepped down and scaring it even more.
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Oh my, a baby raccoon! How cute and how scared it must’ve been. I wish I had sightings like these.
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I’ve been sorting through pictures from my last two long walks at big parks all day. I think I will use it for a Wordless Wednesday post – I got a picture of it looking down too and I’m sure it was scared. That tree was tall and dead, so branches could have cracked off and it was no lightweight. 🙂
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Oh dear! That does sound scary. Those baby animals have it tough when they’re all alone without their parents.
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Yes, it is sad when they are separated from them.
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I prefer the egrets over the herons if your photos are any indication. They have such a clean look and those long elegant necks. They’re even more impressive with their wings open like you show in the one photo. Very happy to hear about the successful campaign to save the Canadian Geese! I know they can be messy (we had a pair who visited our Colorado property regularly) but I’m shocked to read about the nature of the plan to reduce their numbers. To say the least, it’s cruel and inhumane (or is it “in-animal?” 🙂 )
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Dave, I also think the egrets are the prettier of the two birds. Heron weigh about five pounds and are a bit gawky looking when standing, although they are streamlined in flight. It is fascinating to watch either of them fishing. They train their eyes on the water for long periods of time, then strike and are usually successful. I know Canada Geese are messy but what the DNR planned to eliminate them because they are considered a nuisance is terrible and cruel. I saw a Zoom meeting where they offered other remedies, like one they use at Council Point Park whereby the grass is sprayed with grape seed extract which numbs the area around their bill and the geese then go somewhere else to graze. If they relocate the geese, they will fly back, but this was a cruel idea. Now they want to cull the deer herds using sharpshooters and bow-and-arrow hunters. Equally terrible and I’m glad the deer now have the same groups advocating for them.
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