This is the time of the year when visitors from far & wide descend upon our lovely home, and while I’ve been out & about the past few weeks I’ve noticed that there’s a particular group that seems to be here in bigger numbers than ever before.
I’m not talking about human tourists. Nope, I’m talking about… the birds.
That’s right. I think I have seen more Canadian geese in the UP this summer than I ever have. And it’s not just here in Marquette; I’ve spoken with people from Munising to Houghton to Escanaba, and they all seem over-run by this particular type of visitor, strutting around like they own the place, pushing their way wherever they want to go, and hissing at you if you try to go about your everyday life.
In that respect, they’re just like tourists from Chicago.
I have to admit I’m not a big fan of geese, not only because of their attitude but because they’re perpetual pooping machines.
Wherever there’s a flock of geese you’re bound to find their calling cards lying about, and since geese seem to love places like city parks and soccer pitches–two of the places where I spend most of my outdoor time in the summer–well, let’s just say I’ve gotten quite good at a dance we’ll call the “Goose Poop Two-Step.”
Of course, it’s not the geese’s fault. They’re drawn to the UP for the same reasons many of us are–a temperate summer climate, and lots of water.
But I think there’s another reason geese seem to love the UP so much. Many locals–and human tourists–like to feed them. They’re given every meal they could ever want. And if you had a fast food restaurant in your home, you’d never want to leave, would you?
I realize that the geese have as much right to be here as we do. But it would be nice if they would, you know, stay on the water and off the grass. Sadly, though, they don’t seem to care about the people who live here, and instead think of this as their own personal playground, where they can do whatever they want whenever they want.
(Back to Jim)Much like some of the human tourists we get this time of the year.
I’m Jim Koski, and that’s another slice of “Life in the 906.”
