The Only Thing Predictable About Canada Geese is That They are Unpredictable

They come and they go. But, exactly, where, when and how many migratory Canada geese take to sky (and even whether they honk), is ultimately impossible for us mere humans to forecast.

 

The only thing really predictable about Canada geese is that they are unpredictable.

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But, it isn't just me saying that.  Its also the experience of some hunters:

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http://www.kcrg.com/sports/local/Great-Outdoors-Hunting-for-Geese-on-the-Cedar-River--232754671.html

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Like the hunter in the above video, I too, got some surprises last night when walking through Central Park.

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Arriving to the Jackie Onassis Reservoir around 6:PM, I was suddenly beset by the sight of dozens of new migratory Canada geese in the water!

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But, wasn't migration supposed to be finished by now?

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Almost everything ever read or heard about bird migrations cited October as typical fall migration time.

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But, geese have been arriving to and leaving the Central Park Reservoir over the past month in bands of unpredictable waves.  

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Just when one thinks the last of the migrating birds have come and gone, new ones show up!

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But, most of the visiting geese did not stay long last night at the Reservoir.

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I knew by the chorus of short, loud and dog-like excited honks, most of the geese were preparing to leave.

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Sure enough, within minutes, one flock took off for the dark skies and then another and another.

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The "flocks" ranged in size from as many as 25 geese to as few as a pair.

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After all the excitement subsided, some geese elected to stay last night and roost at the Reservoir.  Presumably, the 25 or so geese left this morning some time after sunrise.

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But, I need learn not to make any "predictions" about these wondrous and mysterious birds who apparently adapt behaviors and flying patterns to whatever the circumstances are.

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After all, ain't it funny, that the one skein of geese flying close enough for the hunter to shoot at in the video, kept their mouths shut? --- Something highly unusual for flying geese.

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Never believe, no matter how long in observing Canada geese, that you know everything about them.

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Just when dumb enough to believe that, the geese will come, knock your beliefs to rubble and prove you wrong. -- PCA

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