They’re back!
They arrived early one evening,
as dusk was settling its shadows
over the meadows. Sounding their
unmistakable, trademark honks,
the geese sailed in over the maple
trees, circled around the bottom
cornfield and splashed-landed on
the big pond, where warming tem
peratures had wiped out the shal
low ice cover.
What a racket—calling and
flapping and splashing and pad
dling around—these seven full
grown, beautiful Canada geese
created. You could almost make
out their gleeful announcement,
like children arriving home after
school, shouting “We’re home!”
Though we can’t be certain, we
suppose at least several of the
iturdiqCr
arrivals are part of last spring’s
hatch from the mid-pond goose
nest. They seemed familiar
enough with the surroundings to
move in closer the next morning,
easing into the little pond which is
just a few steps below the house
and dairy barn. In the thick cattail
growth along the water’s perime
ter, the geese find ail sorts of
gourmet goodies to fatten upon.
After dining among the cattails,
they move up onto the pond bank
to graze the sheltered spot beneath
the willow tree. Here, the grass is
already pushing tender, green
sprouts —a late winter delicacy.
Then, when their bellies are full,
the big birds plop down on the soft
grass to snooze in the sun, while at
least one of the larger males stands
watch.
Occasionally, the little flock
will edge its way up the slight hill
toward the dairy barn, where there
are always bits of corn scattered
about from hauling feed to the
cows. As brave and relatively
tame as these geese already are, it
would not be much of a surprise to
find them strolling into the barn to
snatch com from the cows.
Several days after the geese
returned, a few pairs of mallard
ducks arrived. While the geese
routed another small flock of their
own kind that attempted to land on
the pond, they’ve tolerated the
mallards so far.
This peace and calm is expect
ed to last just until a mature pair of
geese decides to nest. Then, we’ll
endure a couple of days of honk
ing, chasing and general water
fowl warfare, until only the tough
est, most persistent pair wins the
territorial squabble and nesting
rights.
Also returning—just when,
where and how it pleases, thank
you—is our semi-resident great
blue heron.
Elephants aren’t the only ani
mals that never forget. The tall,
lanky and leggy bird promptly
upon its return took up watch on
the bank of the little pond, where it
could be found hanging out a cou
ple of hours every day last fall.
in the Year liHls Morton
Building will still be Warranted
Against inMviifHMl Damage!
Check Own warranty Features;
60-YMP PPItKtiM
Agalatt mow-toad damags to the
stntctm with no wadM ML
50-YsarPratacttai
Against dacay op Intact attack
on grsaarvaUva traatad comma
and prasarvatha traatad (under.
20-Vsar Prstacttan
Aialrat pod post tadudtog Hama*
10-Vmp ppatactfan
Aoalnat wind toad danaiß to wp
optional Mumattaal* aldtai doops
wfflinowindvatocttyML
5-Yur Prtttcttow
Apalnot wkd toad danago to tha
atpuctupa with ao wtad votodty
Nadi
M wappaottoa taduda antortab and
tobup and apa not pporatad.
CALL TODAY:
Object of the heron’s stalking is
our growing school of colorful
goldfish, offspring of a pair
released into the pond a few years
ago by a friend. Brilliantly col
ored, with a tendency to lounge
about near the top of the water,
these few-inch-long fish make
easy pickings for the heron’s
Grafting Workshop
WYOMISSING (Berks) —-
Have you ever wanted to repro
duce a good old apple tree that you
have now or remember from your
past? Join Wayne Myers on Satur
day, March 18, beginning at 12:00
p.m. at the Berks County Heritage
Center barn to learn how to repro
duce that old tree.
This workshop will begin with
a slide presentation on grafting,
orchards and backyard tree grow
ing. Then Myers, owner of Faith
Orchards in Douglassville, and
members of the Backyard Fruit
Growers will instruct participants
on how to graft. Each participant
must bring along a 12-inch by
3/8-inch round piece Of last yearns
growth wood and a very sharp
knife. There will be 30-40 modern
and heirloom varieties to choose
Security ft Peace of Mind
Every Morton Building is
backed by the strongest
written warranties in the
industry. When you build with
Morton Buildings, you have
direct involvement with us,
every step of the way.
All of our sales people,
office personnel, plant
workers, engineers, estimators,
architects and construction
crews are employed directly
by Morton Buildings, Inc.
This teamwork concept
eliminates the uncertainties of
Morton Buildings, Jnc.
enjoys an enviable position in
the financial community. We
have a SAT rating from Dun &
Bradstreet... its their highest
rating, for both credit appraisal
and financial strength.
You can be assured of our
performance and support
during construction and
throughout your warranty
period.
Call today for the location
of a sales office nearest you!
, , 800-447-7436
working with a dealership and jm. **APTfltl
lets you take advantage of - IVIfrICTURI
our pride and committment
to service and workmanship. DUIUI/lllW J
P. O. Box 399, Morton, IL 61550
O 1994 Morton Buildings, Int
717/624-3331 908/454-7900
3368 York Rd.. p.o. Box 126,
Qettysburg, PA 17325 PMipsbuig, NJ 08865
appetite for sushi.
While weather predicting has
traditionally been the responsibili
ty of the groundhog population,
around here, we’re more likely to
put stock in the return of the geese.
And they seem to be staking out
territory early this year. Start oil
ing your lawnmower.
Apple Tree
from
Each participant will go home
with two rootstocks and choice of
wood, plus hands-on help and lots
of useful information.
Registration is required by
Monday, March 13, and prepay
ment of the $l2 fee is required.
For more information or to regis
ter, please call the Heritage Center
office at (610) 374-8839 or by
sending your name, address,
phone number and check, made
payable to Wayne Myers. Mail to
Berks County Parks & Recreation
Department,’ 2201 Tulpehocken
Road, Wyomissing, PA 19610.
The Berks County Heritage
Center, operated by the Berks
County Parks & Recreation
Department, is located on Red
Bridge Road, 1 mile north of the
Reading Airport off Rte. 183.