These Canada geese are tipped over and reaching down with their long necks to gather food plants from the bottom of the shallow pond.
The one that’s right side up in the back is a designated sentinel; that’s a goose thing — they take turns watching for danger.
Every time you look at a flock of geese you will see that some of them, the guards, are watching you right back and ready to honk an alarm.
Here is a haiku from 1822 by the Japanese poet Issa, translated by David G. Lanoue, about that very thing.
How prudent!
The geese post guards
Awake, asleep
Julie Feinstein
I am a Collection Manager at the American Museum of Natural History, an author, and a photographer. I live in New York City. I recently published my first popular science book, Field Guide to Urban Wildlife, an illustrated collection of natural history essays about common animals. I update my blog, Urban Wildlife Guide, every Sunday.
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