Kayaking with Canada Geese and Cormorants by Linda Gast
The Canada Geese are arriving at the small lake on the Merced river near Snelling. I observed many geese already there and many more flying in V formation coming in. They start honking the minute they think you are getting too close to them. The Geese mate for life and stay in large groups except when they are nesting. They have a 43 inch wing span and you can often hear their wings beating before you see them overhead.
From the National Geographic: Canada Goose
The Canada goose is one of the best known birds in North America. It is found in every contiguous U.S. state and Canadian province at one time of the year or another.
Canada geese are adaptable to many habitats and may thrive wherever grasses, grains, or berries are available. Because of changing weather, settlement, and farming patterns, many Canada (not "Canadian") geese have begun to alter their migrations. Typically, the birds summered in northern North America and flew south when cold weather arrived. This cycle endures, but some northern populations have shortened their flight to traditional wintering grounds in the southern U.S. and Mexico. Other Canada geese have become permanent residents of parks, golf courses, suburban subdevelopments, and other human habitats across much of North America. In some areas, such as airports, they are so numerous that they are considered a nuisance. Just 50 geese can produce two and a half tons of excrement in a year.
When the birds do migrate, they form impressive and aerodynamic "V-formations." They can cover 1,500 miles in just 24 hours with a favorable wind, but typically travel at a much more leisurely rate. These noisy groups honk their way along established paths that include designated "rest stops." These social birds remain in flocks year-round, except while nesting.
Canada goose populations represent a successful wildlife protection program that revived dwindling numbers in the beginning of the 20th century. The birds were guarded by law and even reintroduced in some areas where their numbers had become low. Today the geese are a popular game bird, and some management concerns center on keeping populations in check because of their detrimental effect on crops.
I also saw a number of Cormorants in their favorite dead tree in the lake. They have the most beautiful green eyes and a wing span of 52 inches. Their call is something like a bullfrog. In fact I thought it was frogs when I first heard them.
This Cormorant does not have natural oil in it's feathers, like other water birds, and must spend a lot of time drying it's wings. The cormorant is usually found on docks and downed trees for sunning and nesting.
Cormorants dive under the water to find food. They use their feet to give themselves momentum and some species of cormorant can dive to 145 feet below the water. In China and other Asian countries, fisherman tie Cormorants to boats and use them to get fish out of the water. A knot is tied near the bird's throat so it cannot swallow big fish. There is a children's book, "Ping" about fishing and Cormorants. http://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Ping-Marjorie-Flack/dp/0140502416
Read more: Information on the Cormorant Bird | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5043201_information-cormorant-bird.html#ixzz11u3agKKS
October is a very pleasant time to kayak the lake. The days are warm and the wind is light. The only problem is the water is low and you really have to watch out for snags.
Linda Gast
www.goldrushcam.com
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