Member-only story
Spring Brings Joy and Sorrow — Tales from the Riverbank.
Stories from my riverside wanderings and bike rides.
The proud parents, Eric and Erica, produced nine goslings this year.
It is always a special mark of spring to see the Egyptian geese strutting and honking protectively as their cute gaggle paddle happily up and down the river.
A few days later, there were five goslings.
Two weeks later, three.
Today one.
The harsh reality of nature hits.
We see urban gulls circle above as the parents shield their remaining little one. Of course, we can’t blame the gulls entirely; pike are partial to a gosling snack too.
Further into the city, a singular goose protects her gaggle. A reversing delivery truck killed her partner of ten years, leaving her to protect her vulnerable offspring alone.
We begin spring by enjoying the joy of the new parents and then share in their sorrow as, one by one, their goslings are taken.
But these are the harsh realities of nature. One creature’s babies are another’s meal.
Eric and Erica will do the same again next year.
Nature never gives up, and that is the inspiring part of this story.
