Chasing Geese

Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at Chew Valley Lake
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig

On the 24th June, the Chew Valley Ringing Station did their yearly roundup of Canada Geese to ring them.  My Dad, Chris Craig, went much earlier than me to help with the setting up and rounding up of the geese with boats.  Some people had been there all day, getting set up.  It's a huge operation, with all the kit being brought from the Ringing Station to the banks of the lake.

My Mum and I got there at 6.00 pm and still had to wait an hour at least before the ringing began.  Our job was to hold and carry the birds for the ringers.  First we had to go where the birds were kept. It was here that the birds were being sexed, once we were told the birds gender, the carrier had to take them to the ringers. At the ringing table, we had to say the sex and whether or not they needed a ring. As they were being ringed, we had to hold the birds tight. I can tell you from experience that they are ferocious little beasts. People SAY that you hold them with their heads behind your back is so they're easier to ring, but in reality, we all know its so the people carrying don't get permanently damaged.  All they can bite or peck is your back, though as the geese are really flexible, it might be able to reach your neck (though their favourite was to pull my hair). But if their head was at the front of your body, they would probably peck out your eyes or maul your stomach or something.  So any way, after they bird is ringed (which can take a good 5 minutes), you go to they weighing area. Here they write down the ring number and the birds weight before letting them go. Then I had to go back and repeat the process. By the time we finished at 8.00 pm, my arms were aching and I had a scratch and lots of bites. I then had to go home to do some homework, whilst Dad didn't get home until almost 10.00 pm.

Really, it was loads of fun.  I mean, how cool is holding a goose?

Chris Craig and Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at Chew Valley Lake
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig

The ringers and helpers at Chew Valley Lake
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig

The boats used to round up the Canada Geese at Chew Valley Lake
Photograph taken by and copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

The Canada Geese ready to be sexed and ringed
Photograph taken by Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

Some of the ringers at Chew Valley Lake
Photograph taken by Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig holding a feisty Canada Goose whilst Chris Craig rings it
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig

Meadow on the banks of Chew Valley Lake
Photograph taken by and copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

You can see from the photographs that the location on the bank of Chew Valley Lake was really beautiful, with the most amazing wildflower meadow that we were careful not to walk in.