Cecil Trip Report- WILD GOOSE ATTACK!!

Harry Fisher (fish8553@dpnet.net)
Wed, 07 May 1997 15:16:27 -0400 

Hi All:
I hate to be redundant on the attack theme, but my husband, nephew and
myself had a ( too ) close encounter with an enraged Canada Goose
protecting a nesting female.  We were aware of their presence and in the
process of giving them a wide berth when the male took matters into his
own hands ( wings? ) and flew to a position about 20` from us.  At this
point, I begin to think " we might be in trouble here."  We began to
back up, and it followed ( at a run ), neck flattened out parallel to
the ground, beak open and hissing.  It quickly closed the gap.  I found
myself on the front line; apparently my cohorts were more talented at
back pedalling than myself!! I yelled, waved my arms; it continued to
approach.  At this point it is literally at my feet, looking more pissed
off than ever, and giving no signs of going away.  In a desparate and
purely instinctive protective response ( trying to save my --- ) I
kicked out at the beast and made contact with its` beak.  That was when
I felt the old injury give way, and all those deep seated pelvic muscles
groan in protest.  That was also when I lost my balance and landed on my
butt in the mud!!  The goose was momentarily thrown off the trail; I was
able to pick myself up and we made our escape.  I felt horrible for
kicking it, but as mentioned it was a reflexive response.  It seemed
fine and began to pick at some grass as we left.  In hindsight, I should
have taken off my hat to thrash about its` face, but I was DUMBfounded
and not thinking.  Needless to say, my nephew named this Goose as his
favorite bird of the day!!
Other sightings on this trip that was billed as a beginners:
( No-one showed but us; my nephew enjoyed himself and proclaimed that he
" didn`t know bird watching could be so much fun!!" )
Trip was to the Meadow Park area of Elkton
We had 45 species during our 1 1/2 hr. jaunt. **New arrival.
 My nephew thought the single** Little Blue Heron was pretty cool,( my
first LBHE at this spot ) likewise the Osprey that hovered over the
ponds.  ** Common Yellow-throat heard singing.  Wood-ducks ( 5 ) were
listed as fly-by.  ** Green Heron ( 1 ) also flew over the ponds. This
was a good place for the above last year.  Dylan also got an
in-your-face- look at several Ruby-crowned Kinglets, singing.  Tree and
Barn Swallows were numerous.  One Belted Kingfisher was heard rattling.
In the future, I will keep even FURTHER away from nesting Canada Geese.
This was one belligerent boy; I would say we were at a comfortable
distance from the nest-site, but evidently not in this Gooses` mind!!
All we were trying to do was observe a muskrat swimming up the pond.
Going back on the ice,
Leslie Fisher
Cecil Co.