Are There Canada Geese in Kansas? (PART 1--still a DRAFT, but almost done!)

Introduction

I can’t honestly remember when I first became entirely enamored of Canada Geese. I don’t have a first recollection in particular. It just seems like I’ve always been this way. Something happens to me when I hear that familiar ‘honking’ as they fly over. First, a sharp intake of breath, as one does at a moment of surprise. Then, an utter compulsion to stop whatever I’m doing at that moment and run (yes! run!) outside… or, at the very least to a window, to watch and listen to them pass over. It’s a reflex reaction that I can control if needs must. Seldom does the situation seem to warrant that. Thankfully most people understand my “Sorry! Geese!” as I point upward and run to the closest door or window.

Why do I react this way? In truth other bird sounds affect me too…just not quite much.

The ‘conk-ra-lee’ of a Red Winged Blackbird takes me right back to a teenage me. Waking up on a spring morning, listening to the blackbirds outside my window, watching the curtains blowing in the breeze and thinking about all those things you think about as a teenager.

Or the way hearing a recording of British birdsong brings me right back to all the mornings I enjoyed those same notes in my beloved England. It fills me with a deep longing and homesickness for those places and those people. I never know what the bird species are, but my ear discerns the difference between those English birds and our birds here in Vermont. And my heart knows.

This blog post is the culmination of 9 weeks of the Data Visualization and Communication class I am taking. It’s the last class I need to obtain my GIS Certificate from UVM. This is my final project. In it, I am supposed to tell my audience a DataStory. As I write this I am keenly aware that ‘I don’t know what I’m doing’, and sincerely wonder if I even will by the time this project is due at 11:59 pm on 23 March 2025. We shall see. I have struggled these last months because it seemed that my classmates were working on projects that will provide useful information to society at large, or even just someone other than themselves. I, on the other hand, have once again been marching to the beat of a different drum. My project is a personal one. About me, my mysterious, baffling, wonderful love of Canada Geese, and my own pending migration from my home—Vermont, westward to Kansas.

Who are these birds I am so enamored with?

It is not often that I give myself permission to spend 9 weeks focusing on a subject matter I love, just for the sake of it. Ok, yes, there has been a ulterior motive to this time--it's for my class. But I also hope that by the end of it I have maybe uncovered an answer, or partial answer to my question 'Why do I love Canada Geese'?

The latin name for Canada Geese is Branta canadensis. The genus name 'branta' comes from an old norse word meaning 'burnt'. They are in the family Anatidae, of the order Anseriformes.

Some further interesting facts:

(Info from: Admin, A. (2025, March 17). Online bird guide, bird ID help, life history, bird sounds from Cornell. All About Birds. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/)

The flow chart below references the information in the table above, and (hopefully) shows in a general way what Canada Geese are likely to be doing over the course of a human calendar year. 

I personally have learned so much about Canada Geese working on this project. My knowledge base before consisted of their identifying characteristics and V formation when flying. This part of the project has been such a joy!

My main experiences with Canada Geese up to this point in life have been in Vermont. Now, with my own pending migration to Kansas on the horizon, I wonder what the Canada Geese population there is like, if it exists at all.

So... Will I Be Able To See Canada Geese in Kansas?

Cumulative Total Count of Canada Geese In Each County

 from 1969-2024 Inclusive

Hurray! YES! I will see Canada Geese in Kansas. All 105 counties in Kansas have recorded observations of Canada Geese. The entire eastern half of the state has a higher number of  than the western half. And within the eastern half, there are two rather distinct areas; the northeast and the south central. The Counties with the largest number (darkest on the map) of cumulative observations between 1969 and 2024 inclusive are: Douglas, Johnson, Wyandotte, Sedgwick, Harvey and Stafford.

This is good news. Four of the counties - Douglas, Johnson, Sedgwick and Wyandotte- with the highest counts are on my 'prefered to live in list', plus one more, Riley. You are wondering how I have chosen my top 5 counties? Have I used my Advanced GIS course skills to make that determination? Hmmm. No. Nothing quite so scientific and research based. It's just that I have either lived there before, know someone who lives there, or have been offered a plot of land to grow willow. That is a data story for another day.

As for this data story, I could feasibly stop right there. Except that this is actually an assignment in Data Visualization. And, I happen to have a few more questions I'd like to know the answer to. For context lets see where my five counties are in the state. And, please note, the color coding in this next map will correspond with the data in the rest of the charts.

eBird

The dataset I am using for my analysis has come from one of the Cornell Lab websites, eBird (https://ebird.org/home).  I highly recommend you go take a gander at that website for some much cooler visuals than I've managed to come up with. And, while I'm at it, two other Cornell websites that are fabulous and fun and full of useful information are; All About Birds (https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/) and my absolute favorite for real time bird migration data (that I have mentioned in previous blog posts) is BirdCast (https://birdcast.info/). Birdcast is a collaboration between CornellLab, Colorado State University and UMassAmherst.

Back to eBird for a minute. Their data is collected by 'citizen scientists' which was old fashioned analog from 1969 until 2005 when the digital age arrived at eBird. This change is reflected in the data- to put it more acurately, in the amount of data available since 2005. All the data entered by citizen scientists is verified by eBird people before it is added to the dataset. However...

A Little Disclaimer... Maybe Big... You Decide

One thing I want to point out, I do have a bias in my data story, and it is this. I am not a research specialist, or a citizen scientist even. I am just a human being who loves Canada Geese and is taking a class (x4) to learn how to make data visualizations and maps.

Even though all the eBird data entries are verified before they are included in the dataset, it is feasible that 2 people on opposite sides of a pond might see the same flock of 20 Canada Geese and both enter 20 in their eBird data form, thereby duplicating the bird count. So instead of 20 the cumulative total is 40. That's what I am using. The cumulative, where those multiple entries have happened. I know there is a way to remove those duplicates--I watched a video, twice, by a professor in India explaining the process, but... I. Just. Didn't. Get. It. So, the reality is my numbers are probably not research quality accurate. Of course if this was a project for somebody else I would have found a way to sort out the duplicates, but since it's a project just for me, I didn't. They say pick your battles. There have been plenty others to choose from. I have lived to tell the tale. Onward.

eBird "Hotspots"

"Hotspots" are locations with 100% public access where people can go birding. My 5 counties have a combined total of 412 hotspots. (Douglas=84, Johnson=175,  Riley=54, Sedgwick=76, Wyandotte=23).This chart shows the total number of geese at all the hotspots, in each county for every year 2005-2024 inclusive. Wyandotte has had the highest counts and the most fluctuation of my 5 counties. Interesting, isn't it, that it has the fewest hotspots?! I wonder what was going on in 2014 and 2015? I suspect this may be one of those 'duplicate records' instances, and will do some further detective work at a later date.

This is an interactive chart-hover over to activate!

  https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/PjqRX/5/

So far, I'm reasonably sure that my chances of seeing Canada Geese at the public hotspots in each county are very good. But, I am curious now if the numbers have changes since 2005. I want to see if the totals at the county hotspots have gone up, or down, or stayed about the same. 

How Have the Numbers of Canada Geese Changed in Each County Over the Last 20 Years?
The chart below looks at hotspot totals for individual years and for each of the counties. Riley county seems to fluctuate, and Wyandotte's result reflects the huge numbers in 2014-2015, but, for the most part, there seems to be an increase in the number of Canada Geese in the other counties since 2005. And then an obvious decrease between 2020 an 2024 in Douglas county. I wonder why that is? Does it reflect a change in the year round resident population or the migratory population? Or a combination of the two? Another question, to dive deeper into at a future point in time.

I've learned alot so far! And have some future analysis identified that I would like to do. For now though, just one last question remains...

Where am I Most Likely to See Canada Geese and When?

Taking a look at county hotspot counts from 2024, I am pleased to see some birds year round. May through September have the lowest counts. That is as expected, and indicates the year round resident Canada Geese population. Then there is an increase in October and November which corresponds to the return of migratory geese. December and January have the highest counts, in each of the counties. So, if I want to see those very large flocks of Canada Geese, it looks like January is the month and Johnson County is the place to be! 

This is an interactive chart-hover over to activate!

  https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/G267Q/3/

I Am Migrating to Kansas!

At least that is the plan. Unless, a miracle happens and I end up in England. Yes, there are Canada Geese there too! The creation of this Data Story has been quite the journey along rough terrain. Schlepping a 50 pound backpack! All uphill! But now that I have eyes on the summit--you know what i'm going to say, don't you? It was all well worth it.

I've learned so much about creating Data Stories. Not the least of which, was how to navigate Power Query and create Pivot Tables in Excel, and analyse data and create visualizations that are not maps!

My knowledge of Canada Geese and birding in general has increased significantly as well.

There's one last tidbit of information I want to share. Did you know that it is illegal under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918 to possess feathers of native North American birds-unless you have a permit?! This includes feathers that have naturally been shed by molting or from birds killed on the road or flying into windows. Check it out here:

https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/feathers-and-the-law.php#:~:text=The%20possession%20of%20feathers%20and,Bird%20Treaty%20Act%20(MBTA).

In the midst of my struggles with the logistics these last 9 weeks, I've gotten plenty of encouragement to 'keep going!' from my teachers, classmates, friends. They have shared that they suddenly became aware of the Canada Geese around them; or they signed up for a birding class; or they've shared pictures with me. You know who you are. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

My data story is a personal one, and it's not finished yet. It really and truly means alot to me that it has affected others. Maybe my story is not going to be a benefit to a community, or a business. But, if you, dear reader, have made it all the way to the end of this blog post, and it makes you more aware of the Canada Geese around you, or just birds in general, or just nature-whether it be flora or fauna...

Then maybe that is enough of a reason to have done the work these last 9 weeks. And maybe there is a benefit to the community at large.

For myself, I really hope (now that my Certificate classes are competed) that I can find work that has something to do with maps, and data stories... and birds!

Why do I love Canada Geese so much? I'm still pondering that. And there will be another post sometime in the future.  For now, I will end with this poem by Mary Oliver.

Looking up... waiting in anticipation for that beloved honking and the V in the sky!

until next time-

susie

Wild Geese

Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting—
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

(Oliver, M. “Wild Geese”. Wild Geese Selected Poems. BloodaxeBooks Ltd. (2004, January.  https://maryoliver.com/)

Things I will miss... Tree ID Walks with the Hartford Tree Board

This is one majestic White Oak! My picture does not do it justice really...

The Hartford Tree Board hosts Tree ID walks a few times a year. These are a casual walk around a specific location, stopping to have a look at each tree on that days agenda. They show us not only how to identify the trees by leaves, form, bark, branching -- I am not a fan of acronyms in general, but, this is one I remember (and like) from my college dendrology class... MAD CapHorse. It stands for Maple-Ash-Dogwood-Caprifoliacea(family)-Horsechestnut. All of these woody plants have opposite branching. So if you are standing in front of a tree you don't know, look at the branches do the leaves come out opposite each other? If they do, more than likely you are looking at one of the above named species. -- The tree board folks also share interesting historical facts and anecdotes about the species we are looking at. They prepare a little booklet for us to take notes, and take home.

My first Tree ID walk with them was way back after covid had struck and zooming had taken over my social life. It was such a joy then to be out and about 'in real life', looking at trees with other like minded human beings.

I have tried to attend every gathering since that first one - missed a few when I injured my knee - and they have all been informative and very enjoyable.

Saturday was no exception. Beautiful day. Amazing trees. Good information. Lovely people.

Thank you Hartford VT Tree Board!

I will miss you!

🍁🌳🍃🌲🍂

What does a Tree Board do?

The Tree Board is a group of people, lead by the town tree warden whose mission it is to plant and maintain public trees and advocate for community tree stewardship.

Do all towns have a Tree Board?

No, but it would be a benefit to the trees and the community if they could!

Does your town have a Tree Board? Please let me know in the comments below!

Fall is in the Air...

...and a little bit of smoke, from Canada, too.

In general I like the smell of woodsmoke but have to admit that it has made the air heavy and given me a headache. The fine particulate has wreaked havoc with more than my lungs. My 'smart' phone has decided the charging port has moisture in it and keeps notifying me of the situation in a very irratating way... if anyone knows how to fix that alarm, please let me know. I have cleared the USB cache multiple times. And, just to be clear, the phone has been nowhere near actual water.

Yet, these minor inconveniences pale in comparison to what folks in Canada and the US have endured (and lost) from the devastating wildfires currently raging.

EDIT: Here's a map of current wildfires as of Sunday 8/18/2024 at 2pm:

https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/usfs/map/#t:tsd;d:today;@-85.1,45.6,4.0z

and a direct link to the website if you want to check it out for yourself.

My heart is heavy for the loss of forests, and homes and lives human and non human. And full of gratitude for those fighting the fires.

Okay. That said. It has been a very, very long time since I've posted an update, so that is what i'm mainly here to do.

When I worked at the US Forest Service one of my co-workers always said  August 12 was the beginning of fall. I have to agree with Art. I pass by this tree nearly everyday and it started its leaf senescence a couple weeks ago. I try desperately to notice the subtle changes in the fall, as I do when the flowers and leaves are emerging in the spring... I am paying attention... paying attention... paying attention... and then suddenly, one day the process is complete and I am left wondering when it happened.

Yes, fall is in the air, and that means some of my absolute favorite willow weaving and basketmaking demonstration events are coming up in the next couple months, starting with the Tunbridge Worlds Fair September 12-15, the Forest Festival in Woodstock, VT September 21, Sculptural Visions at St Gaudens in Cornish, NH September 28 and finally the Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival in Tunbridge October 5-6.

So, I'm starting to think about what I'll do at these events, and, in the meantime finishing up a few WIP baskets to take along...

And, even though there is more news pending, I'll leave it at that for this moment and get on with all there is to do.

Here are a few final pictures that are a reminder that fall is just around the corner. Please get out and enjoy it!

   

love,

susie

Basket Making at the Medieval Faire

 I will be Thetford Hill's resident basketmaker for the day. Come visit me and take a step back in time as you enjoy the food, fun and festivities of the Medieval Faire!

Autumn in Vermont and My Wonderful World of Willow Weaving

 Yes, Autumn has settled in here in the Green Mountain State, making the mountains not so much green as gorgeous shades of yellow, orange and red. I have been driving very slowly these past few weeks so that I can look at the foliage around me, and still stay on the road and in my own lane even...

But this post is not about how beautiful it is here in Vermont this time of year.

It is about the three events I have recently participated in...

Basket making on Antique Hill at the Tunbridge World's Fair then willow weaving sculptures at Sculptural Visions at St. Gaudens in Cornish, New Hampshire and then back to Tunbridge for the VT Sheep and Wool Festival.

At all of these I was blessed to meet some wonderful people... other basketmakers, artists and sculptors, Anglophiles and actual English natives, folks interested in the species Salix for it's sustainability and many uses and even the new owners, at the Vt. Willow Nursery stopped by for a chat.

From my heart, a huge thank you to the folks who invited me to participate in these events and to all the people who came to see me, to share in a conversation and maybe even to weave a little willow.

My heart is full.

A few pictures for you to enjoy...

from Antique Hill, at The Tunbridge World's Fair, Tunbridge, VT ❤ 15-18 September 2022

If you ask me to wear a costume and make a basket outside on a brisk Autumn day with the smell of wood smoke in the air AND spend the day talking to people too, well then, I am one happy camper!

presenting ... ... 'Susie Ingalls Wilder' weaving an 'Apple Basket'.

(go ahead... laugh if you want to :-)

                                               

Sculptural Visions at St. Gaudens in Cornish, NH  ❤ 24 September 2022

People had a fun time adding weeping willow branches to my willow sheep!

  

  

  

and last but not least, the VT Sheep and Wool Festival, Tunbridge, VT ❤ 1-2 October 2022

and that my friends is the end of a very, very happy month of activities! I loved every second of my time with each person who stopped by for a chat at all these events.

Now, to get a bit more willow weaving done before the water in my soaking tank freezes solid...

Wishing you all a very Happy Autumn wherever you are in the world and hoping you make time to do something you love to do as much as I love weaving willow.

love and hugs all around-

susie

Fall is in the air...

It has been almost 2 years since my last post here. Much has happened between then and now in the world at large, and in my life. Just here today to let you know there IS a light at the end of the tunnel! And that my usual fall demos and workshops are all expected to be happening this year. Here they are: 

Friday, August 12, 2022

League of NH Craftsmans Annual Fair

The event is open 10 AM – 5 PM daily, rain or shine.

Lake Sunapee Resort-Newbury NH.

Look for the Northeast Basketmakers Guild

 

 Thursday-Sunday, September 16-19, 2022

Tunbridge Worlds Fair

Tunbridge, Vermont

Look for basketmaking, and a slew of other traditional craft demonstrations up on Antique Hill.

Saturday, September 24, 2022

Sculptural Visions

Saint-Gaudens NHP

Cornish, New Hampshire

Saturday and Sunday, October 1-2, 2022

Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival

Tunbridge, Vermont

Let There Be Light!

This idea has been rolling around in my brain for a long, long time. And, I have made various attempts at starting, but ended up taking apart and starting over.

It was kind of  race against time and the weather for me this fall. The space I had at home for my willow soaking tank has not been available to me at all this year (plus I have been rather preoccupied with the whole downsizing selling and dispersing of stuff) but, I found a temporary alternative location to set the tank up in September and so set about making as many baskets, bases, wreaths etc as I could before the temperatures started to dip below freezing here in VT.

This was the last willow project before I... sold my willow soaking tank to a guy who makes maple syrup with his little boy. It has gone to a good home and in the spring they will have fun together collecting sap and making syrup. And, by then, I sincerely hope I will be heading towards something better too.

So here it is...

 

I love the shadows it casts on the walls and ceiling!

What do you think?

I am currently working on a tabletop version covered with paper that gives it a whole different effect and will post a pic when it is finished!

In the meantime, I have been wiring and glittering pine cones that I collected in the woods next to my studio, for decorations on my willow wreaths. A sticky, messy and time consuming job indeed. But, very satisfying too!

I definitely, definitely love glitter!!

For those of you here in the USA--wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving.

lots of love-

susie