The problem with innovation is that sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. At the visitor centre feeding station, Canada geese have recently learned to come in and grab the sunflower hearts from the tree stumps. As they are a non-native species that are on the increase, and do have a negative impact on wetland ecosystems, I’ve thought about how I could sensitively discourage them.
And then one morning a couple of mute swans were close by. Immediately I thought about biological control, thinking that a couple of swans would be bound to deter other large wildfowl from any food. So I put some suet pellets in the water near them, and they came in and fed.
We are now at the situation where as soon as I appear they come out of the water and run up the bank wings flapping, hissing wildly, as soon as they notice me.
Hissy, doing his thing.
Canada geese have been trying to get in on the act, but they have to get quite close to the swans before they react. So the training will continue.
In the meantime, no matter where I am or what I’m doing anywhere in the vicinity of the lake, they appear. Yesterday I was in the pollinator garden, and I turned rounds to see them on the other side of the fence .......... just waiting. Two very large white mounds of feathers ...................... just staring.
And when they breed.........................there will be more of them !!!!