Editor:
Our Canada wild geese are back. Maybe readers have seen them and heard their call as they fly on their northern migration to the breeding grounds of Labrador, up the Atlantic flyway. Their flightmarks the cycle they make yearly from southern areas of the U.S. seaboard where they overwinter in open coastal areas; northward to the open water of Nova Scotia’s south shore.
And now, flying northward again, to raise a family, their flight is not only recognized as a harbinger of spring but it’s a story of inspiration for all of us ... a story of romantic wildlife devotion and loyalty that even us humans would like to emulate.
Wild geese, unlike many of us, mate for life, each year hatching up to five goslings, which become able to have their own after three years of maturity.
One can only imagine the excitement of these children geese to explore where they have never been before. It may be like us as kids going to the midway of Old Home Week for the first time.
The flight of the wild goose is a ritual that’s repeated many times during their 25-year lifespan, and they pass that hereditary wisdom to their offspring, teaching them how to stay out of trouble.
We have a lot to learn from wildlife ... their ability to survive adversity, not to mention bad weather and unpredictable predators, including man.
Responsible hunters know the story of the wild goose well and share the same environment with respect.
Lorne Yeo,
Argyle Shore,
on behalf of Hunters for Conservation
