Sullivans Pond geese happy in new winter home

By Joanne Oostveen - The Weekly News
The Sullivan's Pond geese are feeling just ducky in their new winter home.
Twelve domesticated geese and one Canada goose were removed from Sullivan's Pond last month to their new winter digs at the Hope For Wildlife Society Rehabilitation and Education Facility in Seaforth. And apart from a little shyness at the start, the entire group is adjusting well and fitting in said Hope Swinimer, director and founder of the society.
"They are in their own half-acre holding unit," said Swinimer. "At first they seemed a little timid, but are now very vocal, eating well and happy."
Swinimer was approached by representatives from HRM who asked her if she could take care of the 13 birds over the winter.
"I was initially surprised at their request, because it is not exactly what our society does, we usually deal with wildlife, but it is important for us all to care for living things, so I said 'yes,'" she said. "And the request came with a donation from HRM for their food."
The geese have been a fixture at the pond for many years and the public expressed concern for their welfare, even though Sullivan's Pond is a beautiful habitat and the geese would have been perfectly OK to stay there, she said.
Allan Smith is a Dartmouth longshoreman who took the geese under his wing for many years. He fed the birds, made sure they were OK and even inspired the name, "goose whisperer," much to his chagrin.
He said he has amassed nearly $7,000 in receipts for feeding the geese over the years.
"The geese are better off where they are now for the winter," he said. "Once the ice is on Sullivan's Pond, dogs and cats could cross and bother the geese, and their feet would get stuck on the ice too. I would like to see this become an annual event where Hope houses them every winter."
Although the geese are quite used to the noise of cars, the fireworks at the tree lighting every December is quite upsetting to the flock. Swinimer says if HRM wants her to move them earlier next year to avoid that stress, she would be more than happy to do so.
But for now the city geese are content to chill out on the Eastern Shore.
"Our Seaforth facility is located on a migration flight path for Canada geese," said Swinimer. "The Sullivan's Pond geese see them and get all excited and stick their necks out to watch them. It is so cute to see. They get very vocal. And all the other ducks on the lake go and have lunch with them, so they have lots of company."
Swinimer moved a white duck, a domestic duck and a Canada Goose in with the group. They are one big happy family now, she said.
"It is neat that the Sullivan's Pond Canada Goose, who cannot fly because of his injury, now has another one of his kind in there with him who also cannot fly," she said.
Due to the nature of the rehabilitative work they do, Swinimer says she cannot accommodate anyone coming out to see the geese, but says they can still teach everyone a lesson from afar.
"It is important that young people especially learn to take care of the animals around us, they are our responsibility," she said. "So when you walk by the pond again in the spring and enjoy seeing the geese, remember they are a beautiful and unique part of Dartmouth."
joanneoostveen@accesswave.ca
For more information, visit www.hopeforwildlife.com.