101 Places to See Before You're 12 - A Migration Path

A Migration Path

 

As we get closer to the end of our 101 Places adventures, I shared with the boys and David that there are some we just probably won't see - like A Migration Path.

 

The book shares lots of examples like Stinkpot Turtles migrating at the Shawnee National Forest in Illinois in the fall, Mexican Free-Tailed Bats migrating in Texas in the spring, Manatees in Florida for several months in the winter, and Garter Snacks in Manitoba in the fall and spring. 

 

Then David reminded me that we were right in the middle of a migration here in Indiana - Canadian Geese.  Oh, right.  How could I not have put two and two together.  The Canadian Geese are everywhere!

 

The boys and I were talking about this in the car one day as two geese slowly made their way across a main thoroughfare in our city.  Headed to a little pond behind a bank.

 

And they had their babies with them!

 

The geese are sort of a joke in our area because they don't appear to be the brightest of animals, and have no fear of humans whatsoever.

 

Our friends that live on lakes in town remark that they used to make a pit stop in our community on their way to more northern points this time of year, but there's something about all the lakes and rivers in our area.  They now nest here, and apparently make big messes out at the lakes.

 

 

All I know is that this time of year, they are serious driving hazards, but it's really fun when we can get up close and see them.

 

 

A few years ago I thought it would be fun to take old bread to the geese and have the boys feed them.  David just shook his head since these are not domesticated animals in any way.  They looked at me like I was crazy and completely ignored the bread we threw to them.

 

Here is a map that one of the science teachers at Brennan's school sent me. 

Apparently much of  the U.S. is on a Canadian Geese migration path!

 

 

From the Book:

#4 - A Migration Path

It's kind of like an invisible superhighway for animals.  No one knows how they know when to start and where to go, but millions of animals return all together to these paths at the same time every year as they journey from their winter to summer homes and back again.  If you're in the right place at the right time, in one day you can see more birds, butterflies, bats, frogs, and even snakes than you've ever seen in your whole life!  The animals load up on food, conduct elaborate mating rituals, make big piles of guano, then go on their way.  Being outnumbered by animals 10,000 to one is an awesome experience!