﻿Tame Wild Geese 



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of them sunning themselves on the shore of the lake. A White-cheeked 

 Goose {occidenialis) , which looked like a giant when compared with several 

 minima, was particularly unsuspicious. While we were in the park a Wild 

 Goose — a Snow, if I remember aright — called from high in the air and 

 descended upon the lake. He was a new arrival. 



We were at first skeptical concerning the genuine "wildness" of these 

 birds, for it appeared remarkable that they should so soon lose their natural 

 timidity. They are regularly fed, however, and are not molested, which is 

 about all the magic there is in the transformation. The birds leave in the 

 spring, presumably for their nesting grounds. I visited the park April 15, 

 and found only a few White-fronted Geese, Mallards, California Eared 

 Grebes, and Coots. Nearly all the birds had gone and one of the Geese 

 was flapping wildly to get aloft, but its wing was clipped or injured. 



My father kept a list of the birds seen the first day, with the approxi- 

 mate numbers. These are as follows: Mallard, 25; Baldpate, 10; Gad- 

 wall,3; Shoveller, 150; Pintail, 1; Canvas-back, 1; American Scaup, 10; 

 Lesser Scaup, 10; American Golden -eye, 5; Buffle-head, 5; Ruddy 

 Duck, 25; Lesser Snow Goose, 15; Ross's Snow Goose, 2; American 

 White-fronted Goose, 20; Hutchins's, White-cheeked and Cackling 

 Geese, 50. Besides these were some tame Mallards and Black Swans, the 

 latter always in the way when a picture was to be taken. 



AMERICAN COOTS 



