photo:
Greg Munson

Last Thursday, ‘improvised life’ reader Sue Anderson sent us these extraordinary photograph taken during the massive May blizzard that hit the Midwest last week, with this report:

This goose with a “can-do” attitude may be of interest to you. I suppose you have heard about the snow storm currently underway in the US Midwest. Here in southeastern Minnesota classes are cancelled, roads are closed, travel is not advised, but this mother Canada goose remains on the job. This photo sent to me by my friend Greg Munson who lives in Rochester, MN, where today’s record May snowfall amount will likely exceed a foot…..

The goose is nesting on a city-owned retention pond at the back of his property. Greg tells me that the goose still remains on the nest today, although some of the snow has melted from her back so she is not as deeply buried as before.

…while we are still getting light snow and sleet today, our temps are predicted to climb from near freezing up to around 70 degrees in the next 4 days with snow giving way to rain.  Although it will be hard to learn if those diligently protected goose eggs end up being lost to flooding, we have to keep in mind that this is often nature’s way.

Here’s the first image Sue sent; the valiant goose’s head is just above the snowline:

Greg Munson
Greg Munson

Her attitude is remarkable. She knows what she has to do and is doing it — nurture the life of her goslings — evidence of a fierce life force all around…

…tenacious and unwavering…

…she is a Role Model!

 

UPDATE 5/6/13, from Sue Charter and Greg Munson:

I wrote to you last Friday with news of a goose buried up to her beak as she dutifully continued to incubate the eggs on her nest amidst our record setting snowstorm of May 2nd.  I thought you might like to know that since then the rapidly melting snow has created more difficulty for her – flooding, but she persists in protecting her unhatched brood from the elements…working feverishly on building up the nest after water rose overnight.

Greg Munson
Greg Munson

Related posts: the tenacity of spring (and us)
celebrating spring with ramps (wild leeks) + our best ramp recipes
a perfect spring outfit: flowers and leaves
the first day of spring gift (x-ray tulip + a haiku)

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3 replies on “life force: a valiant snow-bound goose sitting on her eggs UPDATE

  1. I wish human being Could behave in such resposible way

  2. Please let us know if she manages to hatch her eggs – with tenacity like this, she deserves to succeed.

  3. Amazing story and photos. We were in Illinois at about that time and also had snow but not near as much. Of all days, my son-in-law had to pick up his new car and nearly crashed it on the way home!

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