During our homeschool journey, we learned to investigate anything that “stuck out.” Sometimes we would be disappointed to find that we had become excited about something very common. (This lessened with time.) But sometimes we would discover really weird things, things for which we couldn’t find an easy answer. This past week, we found ourselves in that situation.
One kind of strange happening is that we are finding tree frogs in the back of our truck. Maybe because it has been so humid? I have no idea why, but when we got to the park, Tony noticed this little guy had hitched a ride from home.
I don’t think he thought we could see him.
I figured he might enjoy a spot near the water, but would also need a safe place to hide. I found a tree where he fit right in. I know “they” say to put them back where you found them, but with all of the kittens and dogs on our block, its chances of a longer life were better at the park than back in our neighborhood.
We were at the park on Sunday, as usual, and it was absolutely packed. Not with people, but with birds. We looked for Park Security, but they were not where we expected them. We did find a perfect line of Canadian geese, though.
Many more geese were rushing the beach when we got around the bend.
A few minutes later, we got a clue as to why there might be so many.
The geese were all gathering at the ponds (there are five here), flying in from the surrounding areas. I know we are probably looking at an early fall, but could this be the start of a migration already? It’s only mid-August.
And then we rounded the bend and saw Park Security hard at work, demanding information from a park patron. (We covered the face for privacy reasons.)
But what is that in front of the tire? That doesn’t look like anyone we’ve seen before.
It seemed to be a difficult decision for Sergeant Purdy. Some of his men were on edge, determined not to let the stranger escape.
With that vote in his favor, the stranger went back to enjoying the bounty left by the visiting patron of the pond.
When we got home, I looked up Mallard-Goose hybrids, and found a lot of interesting things. It has a duck bill, but it walks like a goose. It has those strange pink feet. All I could think of was some kind of hybrid. Science websites say “no way.” Geese and ducks are from different families, they say, and that is impossible. I found a lot of personal stories and pictures of some interesting-looking birds, though none were as strange as this one.
Beau is the one who finally found out what he is. And that’s perfect, because the day we discovered him was the day of Beau’s birthday party. The interesting bird above here is an Egyptian Goose. They are not indigenous to this area. But they are kept as an ornamental bird, and may have escaped from somewhere nearby. I have no idea.
It is the only bird in its genus. The other ones are extinct. If you read the Wikipedia article, it says this bird was represented on Egyptian tomb art!
There are populations that have become established in the United States, but none are reported in Indiana, Michigan or Ohio. So I guess this little loner has traveled quite a ways. And that fits with the other birds flying in. What an amazing find in our little park! You never know what you’re going to see when you open your eyes.
Have a wonderful Sunday, my dear friends! I am writing, and hope to post more serious things soon. There is much on my mind and heart that I want to share, and I hope to do it soon! Much love!
The Fullers Four 