sketchbookfactory

A few weeks ago my husband and I were at hanging out at Chaparral Park watching the birds on the island when 2 domestic geese started squabbling. It appeared to be a female goose rejecting the advances of a male goose.

Suddenly we heard a frantic honking from inside the island, and out of the trees came another goose, running and squawking and flapping his wings. Clearly he was the mate of the female.

He ran (and then swam) over to the other two geese and chased off the harassing male. Then he and the female swam off together, the protective male making a sort of under-the-breath muttering sound the whole time. It really seemed to us like he was lecturing her.

“What were you thinking? Everyone knows that guy is trouble! You can’t just wander off alone like that…”

It was a fascinating and hilarious sight to see. After the excitement, we went for a short walk around the lake. When we returned, the mated pair were still swimming around and this time they were both making those bickering noises.

“Will you let it go already? I’m an independent goose, I can do what I want.”

“Not until you promise to be more careful!”

“Oh calm down, nothing happened.”

“Because I was there to stop it.”

“I can take care of myself perfectly fine.”

“Obviously not.”