Feed me

Wish I'd got the head in focus, too, but I still like this Canada Goose's wing feathers folded back so neatly. This bird was obviously used to being fed by local people and their children, but of course it was out of luck from me : ) This species is native to Alberta.

"A familiar and widespread goose with a black head and neck, white chinstrap, light tan to cream breast and brown back. Has increased in urban and suburban areas in recent years; just a decade or two after people intentionally introduced or reintroduced “giant” Canada Geese to various areas, they are often considered pests." From AllABoutBirds.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/canada_goose/id

"Extremely successful at living in human-altered areas, Canada geese have proven able to establish breeding colonies in urban and cultivated areas, which provide food and few natural predators, and are well known as a common park species. Their success has led to them sometimes being considered a pest species because of their depredation of crops and issues with their noise, droppings, aggressive territorial behaviour, and habit of begging for food, especially in their introduced range. Canada geese are also among the most commonly hunted waterfowl in North America." From Wikipedia.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_goose

www.canadiangeographic.ca/kids/animal-facts/canada_goose.asp

Five days ago, on 7 May 2015, I joined friends to go on a birding walk at the south end LaFarge Meadows, accessed off 194th Ave. The weather was beautiful, though the temperature was only 7C-11C, and the birds were so far away. I did manage to get a distant shot of two of the three Trumpeter Swans (both juveniles) that were near the river. A Bald Eagle flew overhead and a Great Blue Heron flew in the far distance. A little Savannah Sparrow posed in a small tree for us and a Muskrat was seen in the large pond by the river.

After the walk, I decided to call in at a wetland in SW Calgary, hoping that at least a few of the birds would be close enough for photos. I met a delightful, enthusiastic and knowledgeable photographer/birder while I was there, and she showed me the area accessed from a point that I had never tried before. I had hoped to maybe see a Common Grackle at this wetland, as I had seen photos taken there by other people, and sure enough, there was one down near the water's edge. Just managed to get one lucky shot before the bird flew off. Many people don't like Grackles, but I see them so rarely and I think they are beautiful birds.

A few duck species and other birds were seen, including Ruddy Duck, Lesser Scaup, and Mallards (of course). Also Coots, a pair of Grebes, and a few Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds.

WHY PHOTOGRAPHERS (& others) GET SUCH A BAD NAME! Shown on The Weather Network.

www.theweathernetwork.com/videos/Gallery/all/video_galler...