Greetings,

Concerning your (Eelevel?) question about the Canada Goose goslings surviving
a 40-foot drop. Sure they will. I remember seeing a documentary several years
ago about cliff-nesting Canada Geese. The goslings bounced down the cliff-face
like tennis balls. Don't recall whether all survived, but some did.
Last year, Canada Geese nested in the Osprey nest in the Quendall Log Yard
just north of Renton. No sooner did the geese vacate the nest or the Ospreys
(who had just returned) took over and raised their young in the same nest
(raises some interesting questions about parasite loading/sharing, but I don't
know a whole lot about that).
I didn't see the goslings leave, actually. So I can't say for sure the Ospreys
didn't "polish them off." But prior to the geese's departure, Ospreys did
visit the nest area and showed interest (perched up above on power pole) but
didn't show aggression (fly-by, vocalization, stooping etc.). Of course I
wasn't there the whole time.

Martin Muller, Seattle
martinmuller at msn.com