> -------This Sunday I went to see the Emperor( Goose) at his 'castle' on
> the Sandy River in the Lewis and Clark Park near Troutdale, Oreg. He was
> most cordual in all his regal finery(he even sang for me). However I had
> to entice him and his royal court (the Mallards) from across the river
> by bearing gifts of grain bread. They did come over, giving me a real
> close look at this lovely goose...

The Emperor may be the loveliest of the geese.
But my image of the above-related experience is tarnished by that proferring
of bread.
In many places, the public is warned not to feed ducks, geese, and gulls, even
though they accept such handouts greedily. The food rarely, if ever, does those
birds much good, and sometimes can harm them or their environment. The use of
attractants is for the enjoyment of the observer.
The American Birding Association, for its part, states this code of birding
ethics:
1.1.b. "Limit the use of...methods of attracting birds, and never use such
methods in heavily birded areas, or for attracting any species that... is rare
in your local area."
--
Scott Richardson
NE Seattle
salix at halcyon.com