A Goose Kiss in the Night

Cago welcoming new goose pair (background) at Harlem Meer Friday night.

A little wary and nervous, one of the new geese checks me out.

Cago walking to me with a special message.

Persistent, but never Pushy.

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She deserves credit for persistence and never giving up hope.

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Friday night, when arriving to Harlem Meer, I was surprised not only to see a pair of new geese at Harlem Meer, but Cago roosting a respectful few feet away from them.

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Despite the loss and numerous rejections of the past few months, Cago never gives up the hope of finding new geese who will eventually accept her.

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But, despite the fact that the new geese were not particularly mean or hostile towards Cago, it is unlikely they will welcome her into their small fold.

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Mated Canada goose pairs are not usually into "threesomes" and its unlikely anyway that the goose pair will stay at the Meer more than a day or two.

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Still, always the gracious hostess to any newly arriving geese, Cago made earnest attempt at welcoming and acquaintanceship.

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For their part, the goose pair was mostly indifferent towards Cago though they made it clear she was to keep respectful distance from them -- which (as always), Cago did.

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She may be persistent and forever hopeful, but Cago is never pushy.

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A Goose Kiss?

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Always appreciative and loyal to her duck and human friends, Cago moved away from the new geese at the Meer on Friday night to greet and follow me.

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I walked to a quiet place, sat on a rock and snapped photos.

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But, one photo I could not take was when Cago walked up to me and put her face to mine.

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Her bill gently brushed the side of my face in what felt like a "goose kiss."

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Surprised, I gently stroked the top of her back with fingertips and offered Cago some kernels of cracked corn with the other hand.

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Some might say that Cago was simply beseeching me for more treat when brushing her face against mine.

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But, I prefer to think it was an appreciative and friendly, goose kiss. 

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Only Cago herself could tell or actually knows the meaning, if any. 

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Perhaps it was simply a sweet gesture or perhaps it is a mystery whose meaning will never be known.   -- PCA

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