Appreciate the geese
There is nothing quite like standing in the middle of the courtyard and being brought to a halt by a skein of geese flying overhead.
A wildlife spectacle unlike many others in that it isn’t a rare occurrence here at WWT Caerlaverock, a flyover of a flock made up of a thousand barnacle geese is a particular favourite of autumn. And this is what the Wild Goose Festival is all about. This week we are pleased to have been a part of the festival, produced by the Stove Network in Dumfries and in partnership with over 20 other organisations around the area.
The festival is all about the geese but it is easy to get caught up in the organising and stress of an event like this. The reminder is always there though: that sound and then the crane of your neck and then… the geese.
I was taking a walk around the reserve today with some of our donors and when we stopped in the Newfield Hide. There was a flock of several hundred birds covering the field. Most had their heads down and eating but a few were alert, necks long and looking out to detect predators. This vigilance is common in birds and other animals that live in groups like this, such as meerkats. The sentries stand watch while the others tuck in ensuring that they can eat in peace.
Our conversation trickles off as we watch these brilliant birds. In our silence, we can hear them chattering amongst themselves and soon hear another flock of geese, this time pink-footed, flying overhead. We don't see them straight away, possibly because they are above the clouds but then they drop low enough for us to watch and we admire them until they are out of sight behind the hide.
This gentle peace that found in watching wildlife isn't something experienced in almost any other aspect of life. Having to be quiet and patient and slow is incredibly beneficial and shows how good being in nature is for our mental wellbeing. Trying to find peaceful moments in green and blue spaces is something that we should all be seeking out and I for one am so grateful for it.
And grateful for the goose festival for giving me an excuse to sit back and appreciate the geese.
Words and pictures by Marianne Nicholson
