Babies!

They. Are. So. FLUFFY!!!!  And so stinking CUTE!

We have several ponding basins in town that are used for storm runoff and groundwater replenishing.  They have also become quite the wildlife habitats for a variety of water fowl, especially Canada Goose.

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When I was growing up in the Central Valley, geese and other water fowl were almost never seen.  I have no recollection of ever hearing or seeing geese or ducks flying overhead.  I knew there would be some hanging out at the golf course that was not too far from my home, but they were the exception.  The course had water ponds and was near to the river so it was a natural place to find them.

I now live not too far away from the house I grew up in.  (Never, ever, ever expected that to happen.  Ever.)  So the same river is nearby, but now seeing geese and ducks is a regular occurrence.  Our yard is right in the flight path of the daily migration of Canada Goose and Mallard Duck as they make their way from a nearby ponding basin to the river and back again.  (Hear some here in the second video clip.)

We also now see Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, American Coots, and a host of other birds.  The best sight, though, are the baby goslings that start showing up in droves in the spring.  Bright yellow fluff balls on legs.

On the way home from work one day this week, the medium boy and I happened to spot some babies that somehow had gotten separated from the rest of their family on the wrong side of the fence around the pond.  We pulled over to the side of the road and got out of the car to see if we could reunite them.  Eventually the little ones found a gap at the bottom of a gate and they popped right under and joined their crew.  Sadly, I accidentally stopped the video before showing the reunion, but it was a happy ending, anyway!