Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Report from the Goose Meadow after first snow accumulation and several days of cold

1. The Morning of January 23.
2. The Afternoon of January 23.


1. The Morning of January 23.

This morning, I was walking over the BU Bridge. As always, I looked down on the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River Geese which has become their year-around home, thanks to the heartlessly destructive Cambridge City Council and their friends in the state bureaucracy.

I have been concerned about several days of very cold weather, commonly single or double digits. In particular, I have been concerned about the Charles River White Ducks, Andrake and Daffney. They are living through their first winter in freedom. I have passed their favorite spot in the Charles a number of times without seeing them and, given the temperatures, I have been worried.

In the DNA was a representative of the Charles River Urban Wilds Initiative feeding a whole bunch of birds donated greens. It looked like Bill Naumann. Part of the gaggle was probably out hunting. It did not look like the full gaggle by any means.

There were more Canadas there than Whites. Smaller birds, mostly mallard ducks, but some pigeons, exceeded the combined population of geese.

I did not, however, see the Charles River White Ducks in the gathering. I walked a bit further and I saw them. They were off shore in water right next to the Destroyed Nesting Area. That water had not frozen yet and they really enjoy their water.

While I was watching, Bill, if it were Bill, came to the water’s edge and tossed them some greens in the water.

Thanks to the folks from CRUWI. They are all that has saved the animals of the Charles River from the ruthless destruction of the Cambridge City Council and their state bureaucrat friends.

It was quite cold today, definitely below 20, and CRUWI was doing their charitable deeds.

2. The Afternoon of January 23.

Coming back over the BU Bridge, it was striking to see how the various birds had separated themselves from the other breeds.

There were perhaps five pigeons roosting on the near wall of the Grand Junction Railroad Bridge.

First visible at surface level were the Canadas, sitting on the ice. Then were the ducks in the free water next to the shore, including Andrake and Daffney. Andrake and Daffney had barely moved from the morning. They remained a few feet from shore. The number of mallards with whom they were swimming could possibly have been 30. A large percentage of the mallards very likely could be one brood of 12 to 14 hatched last summer which did not seem like moving.

The Charles River White Geese were spread out in the flat part of the Goose Meadow. In their midst was one lonesome Canada. The Canada was very likely a bird whose mate was killed several years ago. He simply stayed here, the lone Canada.