CANADA GEESE

[Placido]

The Radio 4 Book Of The Week this week concerns Cockshutt Wood in Herefordshire. IMO Monday's episode wasn't too good but yesterday's broadcast contained a very interesting little cameo concerning the arrival (it's very early Spring) of a pair of Canada Geese in the carefully managed Wood.
The author, who looks after the Wood, was not at all pleased and came with his son to attempt to scare them away. Gunshot nor barking dogs could shift them so they were shot.

Apparently, they would have destroyed the pool: frogs, moorhens and any mallard that landed so they were killed.
The gander was shot first in an attempt to force the female to fly off. She did not. She faced the guns so they killed her too, to "end her grievous suffering at the loss of her life-long mate".
The pool was more important.

Seems Canada Geese are not welcome birds .

[nuthatch]

I wonder why they were introduced here.

[Placido]

S'pose it's the same reason why we have grey treerats and Japanese knotweed .
Someone perhaps thought it would be a good idea once upon a time.

[Jacksparrow]

I think Placido has hit the nail on the head. If the balance of nature is likely to be upset by an introduced species being present they should be discouraged by any means available. Canada Geese have the ability to squeeze out native species if left to their own devices.