Thinking about this wonderful Canada goose family we saw on the Deschutes River last spring. There are still four or five months of winter until spring reaches central Oregon again.
In this stretch, the Deschutes River meanders lazily through verdant wetlands, the floor of an ancient lake. Many times in its life, the river has been dammed by lava flows from Newberry Volcano, Oregon’s largest active volcano. The river ponds behind the lava flows and builds up a large lake that can last for decades before it eventually erodes through (or around) the offending lavas and empties. The fertile lakebed soil historically made this high altitude plain a center of agriculture, but now it’s mostly vacation homes and lovely kayak routes through a -mostly- healthy ecosystem.
Stopped by the park last evening to see how the geese were doing. All I have to do is get off the path and stand by the small tree and they come running from 200 feet away.
That family I have posted here before was there too. The goslings have gotten much bigger in the last ten days.
Here is a closer loos at the babies. I think they all come running because they think I have snacks for them.