Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:54:34 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:
Up at Union Steamship Marina on Bowen Island (Howe Sound, BC) they
keep a pet swan. Much classier bird than a dirty poop-pumping goose,
IMO. Also unlikely to attract freeloading room mates, unless you have
wild swans in your area.

A PO'd goose *can* be formidable, I've seen them flap and hiss a
medium size dog into submission. Don't know whether a swan would be as
aggressive or protective, but a swan adds a touch of class while a
goose adds a pile of poo.

Some corporate HQ's with extensive grounds around here have retention
ponds. Geese flocking there were becoming a problem. Attacking
employees, goose crap all over the place, etc.
They now have a company bring in a pair of nesting swans in the
spring, and remove them in the fall.
Goose problem solved. Greatly reduced anyway. The swans seem to
tolerate ducks.
I was at the Chicago Botanic Garden (it's actually in Glencoe, IL)
once and was surprised to see they had brought in a Border Collie and
owner to shag geese from a lagoon. Never got to talk to him as he was
across the lagoon - the owner, that is.
The dog seemed in his element, taking short swims to make his point to
any reluctant geese, then ranging ashore again.
One time I was canoeing on the Kankakee river with my wife and she
spotted a pair of swans. "Oh, steer over there so we can see the
pretty swans," she said. We got within 50 yards and one - the male I
assume - came steaming at us. His wake was bigger than our canoe's,
and he didn't look friendly.
"Paddle faster!! Paddle faster!!" I shouted at my wife as I steered
away.
I think he got to about 10 yards of our stern, but I was too busy
paddling to be sure of that. Whew.

--Vic




We have a lot of farms in our area, and many property owners with ponds.
The ponds attract geese and ducks and some property owners have swans.
All the critters seem to get along well enough. There's a ranchette
around the corner where the owners raise horses, ponies, and llamas.
When the crops on the fields around here are harvested, the geese move
in for a while. They're very pretty animals. We've had pheasant and wild
turkeys landing in our yard. Happily, most of the property owners around
here have banned hunters from their land.

Since we infringed on their territory, I'm glad to see some of the wild
critters making do. They're certainly better neighbors than some
ticky-tacky subdivision would be.

"HK" wrote in message
. ..
Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:54:34 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:
Up at Union Steamship Marina on Bowen Island (Howe Sound, BC) they
keep a pet swan. Much classier bird than a dirty poop-pumping goose,
IMO. Also unlikely to attract freeloading room mates, unless you have
wild swans in your area.

A PO'd goose *can* be formidable, I've seen them flap and hiss a
medium size dog into submission. Don't know whether a swan would be as
aggressive or protective, but a swan adds a touch of class while a
goose adds a pile of poo.

Some corporate HQ's with extensive grounds around here have retention
ponds. Geese flocking there were becoming a problem. Attacking
employees, goose crap all over the place, etc.
They now have a company bring in a pair of nesting swans in the
spring, and remove them in the fall.
Goose problem solved. Greatly reduced anyway. The swans seem to
tolerate ducks. I was at the Chicago Botanic Garden (it's actually in
Glencoe, IL)
once and was surprised to see they had brought in a Border Collie and
owner to shag geese from a lagoon. Never got to talk to him as he was
across the lagoon - the owner, that is.
The dog seemed in his element, taking short swims to make his point to
any reluctant geese, then ranging ashore again.
One time I was canoeing on the Kankakee river with my wife and she
spotted a pair of swans. "Oh, steer over there so we can see the
pretty swans," she said. We got within 50 yards and one - the male I
assume - came steaming at us. His wake was bigger than our canoe's,
and he didn't look friendly. "Paddle faster!! Paddle faster!!" I shouted
at my wife as I steered
away.
I think he got to about 10 yards of our stern, but I was too busy
paddling to be sure of that. Whew.

--Vic


We have a lot of farms in our area, and many property owners with ponds.
The ponds attract geese and ducks and some property owners have swans. All
the critters seem to get along well enough. There's a ranchette around the
corner where the owners raise horses, ponies, and llamas. When the crops
on the fields around here are harvested, the geese move in for a while.
They're very pretty animals. We've had pheasant and wild turkeys landing
in our yard. Happily, most of the property owners around here have banned
hunters from their land.

Since we infringed on their territory, I'm glad to see some of the wild
critters making do. They're certainly better neighbors than some
ticky-tacky subdivision would be.

Apparently you haven't witnessed the destruction and mess made by a flock of
Canada geese.


--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Jim wrote:

"HK" wrote in message
. ..
Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:54:34 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:
Up at Union Steamship Marina on Bowen Island (Howe Sound, BC) they
keep a pet swan. Much classier bird than a dirty poop-pumping goose,
IMO. Also unlikely to attract freeloading room mates, unless you have
wild swans in your area.

A PO'd goose *can* be formidable, I've seen them flap and hiss a
medium size dog into submission. Don't know whether a swan would be as
aggressive or protective, but a swan adds a touch of class while a
goose adds a pile of poo.

Some corporate HQ's with extensive grounds around here have retention
ponds. Geese flocking there were becoming a problem. Attacking
employees, goose crap all over the place, etc.
They now have a company bring in a pair of nesting swans in the
spring, and remove them in the fall.
Goose problem solved. Greatly reduced anyway. The swans seem to
tolerate ducks. I was at the Chicago Botanic Garden (it's actually in
Glencoe, IL)
once and was surprised to see they had brought in a Border Collie and
owner to shag geese from a lagoon. Never got to talk to him as he was
across the lagoon - the owner, that is.
The dog seemed in his element, taking short swims to make his point to
any reluctant geese, then ranging ashore again.
One time I was canoeing on the Kankakee river with my wife and she
spotted a pair of swans. "Oh, steer over there so we can see the
pretty swans," she said. We got within 50 yards and one - the male I
assume - came steaming at us. His wake was bigger than our canoe's,
and he didn't look friendly. "Paddle faster!! Paddle faster!!" I
shouted at my wife as I steered
away.
I think he got to about 10 yards of our stern, but I was too busy
paddling to be sure of that. Whew.

--Vic


We have a lot of farms in our area, and many property owners with
ponds. The ponds attract geese and ducks and some property owners have
swans. All the critters seem to get along well enough. There's a
ranchette around the corner where the owners raise horses, ponies, and
llamas. When the crops on the fields around here are harvested, the
geese move in for a while. They're very pretty animals. We've had
pheasant and wild turkeys landing in our yard. Happily, most of the
property owners around here have banned hunters from their land.

Since we infringed on their territory, I'm glad to see some of the
wild critters making do. They're certainly better neighbors than some
ticky-tacky subdivision would be.

Apparently you haven't witnessed the destruction and mess made by a
flock of Canada geese.




No, I haven't seen any geese destroying a field where corn or other
grains have been harvested. I'd rather have a flock of geese as
occasional visitors than have some ticky-tacky townhouses as permanent
neighbors. Hell, I'd rather have a flock of geese as neighbors than some
of the assholes who post here.

On Thu, 30 Aug 2007 06:31:35 -0400, HK wrote:



We have a lot of farms in our area, and many property owners with ponds.
The ponds attract geese and ducks and some property owners have swans.
All the critters seem to get along well enough. There's a ranchette
around the corner where the owners raise horses, ponies, and llamas.
When the crops on the fields around here are harvested, the geese move
in for a while. They're very pretty animals. We've had pheasant and wild
turkeys landing in our yard. Happily, most of the property owners around
here have banned hunters from their land.

Out of curiosity I plugged goose control swan into google and the
first result I clicked on was this
http://www.canadiangoosecontrol.com/...e_programs.php
Not too surprised to see my area code for their phone number.
Probably the migration path is heavier here than where you are.
Looks like the swans control the algae in the ponds too.
Nothing wrong with controlling goose populations with hunting, since
the alternatives aren't pretty. Don't hunt myself.

Since we infringed on their territory, I'm glad to see some of the wild
critters making do. They're certainly better neighbors than some
ticky-tacky subdivision would be.

That's very sweet, Harry. But what about skunks?

--Vic

Vic Smith wrote:
On Thu, 30 Aug 2007 06:31:35 -0400, HK wrote:


We have a lot of farms in our area, and many property owners with ponds.
The ponds attract geese and ducks and some property owners have swans.
All the critters seem to get along well enough. There's a ranchette
around the corner where the owners raise horses, ponies, and llamas.
When the crops on the fields around here are harvested, the geese move
in for a while. They're very pretty animals. We've had pheasant and wild
turkeys landing in our yard. Happily, most of the property owners around
here have banned hunters from their land.

Out of curiosity I plugged goose control swan into google and the
first result I clicked on was this
http://www.canadiangoosecontrol.com/...e_programs.php
Not too surprised to see my area code for their phone number.
Probably the migration path is heavier here than where you are.
Looks like the swans control the algae in the ponds too.
Nothing wrong with controlling goose populations with hunting, since
the alternatives aren't pretty. Don't hunt myself.

Since we infringed on their territory, I'm glad to see some of the wild
critters making do. They're certainly better neighbors than some
ticky-tacky subdivision would be.

That's very sweet, Harry. But what about skunks?

--Vic

At one time Harry actually would carry out his dinner leftovers leave
them for the wildlife to eat so him and his wife would enjoy their
company. This is known to be very negative for all wildlife so
hopefully he has stopped feeding them and are allowing them to fend for
themselves.

Vic Smith wrote:
On Thu, 30 Aug 2007 06:31:35 -0400, HK wrote:


We have a lot of farms in our area, and many property owners with ponds.
The ponds attract geese and ducks and some property owners have swans.
All the critters seem to get along well enough. There's a ranchette
around the corner where the owners raise horses, ponies, and llamas.
When the crops on the fields around here are harvested, the geese move
in for a while. They're very pretty animals. We've had pheasant and wild
turkeys landing in our yard. Happily, most of the property owners around
here have banned hunters from their land.

Out of curiosity I plugged goose control swan into google and the
first result I clicked on was this
http://www.canadiangoosecontrol.com/...e_programs.php
Not too surprised to see my area code for their phone number.
Probably the migration path is heavier here than where you are.
Looks like the swans control the algae in the ponds too.
Nothing wrong with controlling goose populations with hunting, since
the alternatives aren't pretty. Don't hunt myself.

Since we infringed on their territory, I'm glad to see some of the wild
critters making do. They're certainly better neighbors than some
ticky-tacky subdivision would be.

That's very sweet, Harry. But what about skunks?

--Vic



We live out in the country. There are all manner of "nature aromas" out
here. There's a horse ranchette around the corner, and part of my
property adjoins a 100-acre meadow where a small herd of farm animals roam.

On Thu, 30 Aug 2007 08:23:31 -0400, HK wrote:



That's very sweet, Harry. But what about skunks?

--Vic

We live out in the country. There are all manner of "nature aromas" out
here. There's a horse ranchette around the corner, and part of my
property adjoins a 100-acre meadow where a small herd of farm animals roam.

Though I'm in a suburban environment, my 3 dogs, landscapers spreading
manure and the occasional skunk are enough for me.
What's a "horse ranchette?" Sounds a mite kinky.

--Vic

Vic Smith wrote:
On Thu, 30 Aug 2007 08:23:31 -0400, HK wrote:


That's very sweet, Harry. But what about skunks?

--Vic

We live out in the country. There are all manner of "nature aromas" out
here. There's a horse ranchette around the corner, and part of my
property adjoins a 100-acre meadow where a small herd of farm animals roam.

Though I'm in a suburban environment, my 3 dogs, landscapers spreading
manure and the occasional skunk are enough for me.
What's a "horse ranchette?" Sounds a mite kinky.

--Vic

A lot of people out here with five to 10 acre "spreads" keep horses. But
there's a riding stable around the corner about three quarters of a mile
away, and it is a commercial enterprise, with about 25 horses and ponies
and other critters. It's a 150 acre ranchette. Small ranch. Looks like
one, too, like right out of an old western movie.

On Thu, 30 Aug 2007 08:48:53 -0400, HK wrote:

Vic Smith wrote:
On Thu, 30 Aug 2007 08:23:31 -0400, HK wrote:


That's very sweet, Harry. But what about skunks?

--Vic

We live out in the country. There are all manner of "nature aromas" out
here. There's a horse ranchette around the corner, and part of my
property adjoins a 100-acre meadow where a small herd of farm animals roam.

Though I'm in a suburban environment, my 3 dogs, landscapers spreading
manure and the occasional skunk are enough for me.
What's a "horse ranchette?" Sounds a mite kinky.

--Vic

A lot of people out here with five to 10 acre "spreads" keep horses. But
there's a riding stable around the corner about three quarters of a mile
away, and it is a commercial enterprise, with about 25 horses and ponies
and other critters. It's a 150 acre ranchette. Small ranch. Looks like
one, too, like right out of an old western movie.

Cool.

There's a pair of swans that have taken up residence in Scituate harbor for
years. (They mate for life, you know).

Those of us "in the know" appreciate their beauty as they glide by the boat
looking for handouts, but have learned *not* to feed them and advise
newcomers or guests of the same. They have lost most of their fear of
humans but are still wild creatures and will chase and attack small children
as the children try to feed them.

They also make an ungodly mess on the docks.

Eisboch