There are two times of year that I love living on the edge of the prairie, spring and fall. I've always been a big bird lover and am constantly awed by spring and fall migration. This week the canada geese arrived back in substantial numbers and reports from the Dakotas are that the migration of snow geese is in full swing. Goose music is a great part of a prairie spring.
Aldo Leopold likens the spring migration of geese to a prophet who has burned his bridges - once they are here they are at the mercy of the weather; a little too soon and bad weather can imperil them and their nests. Migration for a goose is a "leap" or flight of faith.
Leopold also notes that too many of us (and recall that this was written in the 1940's) are not able to hear goose music anymore. He laments:
A march sky is only as drab as he who walks in it without a glance skyward, ear cocked for geese. I once knew an educated lady, banded by Phi Beta Kappa, who told me that she had never heard or seen the geese that twice a year proclaim the revolving seasons to her well-insulated roof. Is education possibly a process of trading awareness for things of lesser worth? The goose who trades his is soon a pile of feathers.
Hoping you can hear some goose music this week.
Peace,
Jeff
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