Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!venus!yalevm!maine!rfy630
From: RFY630@MAINE.BITNET (Chris Winne)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Canadian Geese Behavior
Message-ID: <90151.194531RFY630@MAINE.BITNET>
Date: 31 May 90 23:45:31 GMT
Organization: University of Maine System
Lines: 12

Just yesterday my daughter and I were down to the shore, when we heard
some honking and splashing.  We crossed the bank to the (freshwater)
estuary behind (with our dog), and saw nothing at first. Then a couple
of birds came swimming across the water, alternately honking, the small
one following the other, swimming all the way to us, settling in about
10 feet away, watching and honking. We both loved it (she's ~20 months),
while our dog took no notice. They stayed till we left (it was getting
dark), and then swam off.
I was just wondering what this behavior might mean?  Were they
accultured to people and looking for food?  Trying to scare us away,
perhaps considering a nesting site (I thought they generally went a bit
further north, and further from the ocean), or just saying Hi!?