The middle of March has not seen this much snow at our place in a long time. It snowed two feet yesterday and last night. This morning we woke up to more snow coming down. We cleared the last of the snow as we feed and watered our sheep and poultry.The Border Collies, Skye, Jim, Blade, Tara and the mix breed Nash don’t have much work to do when there is this much snow, so they played or looked for wild critters under the snow. As Caleb and Lori got ready for their day jobs, I took the dogs for their usual morning walk in the swampy woods behind our place.This walk found me on snowshoes trudging through the deep snow. Somewhere was the trail the dogs, and I made the evening before, now swept by the wind and new snow.
After breakfast I got into one of our goose mobiles, a Honda Element with the kayak, as always, inside and two of the Border Collies, Blade, and Tara.They are the youngest of our dogs, three years and one year respectfully, but they have loads of talent and by now, lots of experience. And so we were off on two early season goose control trips to properties that promised far less snow and geese! I drove west for a half hour and across the Hudson River here in New York to were the snow storm seemed to miss. And sure enough, we arrived at a production plant with little snow and quite a few geese and pairs of geese trying to set up territory.This year is the third year we have worked this property.In our first-year geese pairs would set up nests at building doorways and not let people get inside. There used to be a lot of geese on the lawns as well. Last year and so far this year the situation is much more under control, fewer geese and no nests at doorways. Blade and Tara chased off all the geese with enthusiasm true to their nature and training. They made outruns as if they were going to herd sheep somewhere. In this case, geese fly to the sky and away.
Then it was off to a private residential community a half-hour away. We have started and stopped visiting this property this year as three Noreaster storms have hit in the last three weeks. But geese have always been back. This morning no geese to be found. But pairs had been there earlier in the morning.That happens sometimes.We will be back as we have contracted three visits a week for a month. In this way, we can keep after any pairs of geese so they don’t nest or stick around.Blade and Tara didn’t look too disappointed as they had a great time playing in the four inches of snow. The pond was ice-free, and there are grassy areas that geese can utilize.( the next visit, sure enough, there were eight geese on that small pond to herd-chase).
I then drove home and feed the sheep and poultry and the dogs and myself. My part-time school substituting gig was not on this afternoon, so I scheduled a trip to our south in Connecticut to an office complex. This trip was Skye and Nashe’s turn. Skye is our 7 and a half female Border Collie and is Nash the mix breed. When we arrived at the office complex, we found some pairs and two flocks. The ponds here are large, so after the dogs herd-chased the geese from the grass, not much snow, I used the kayak with Nash seated with me. Skye worked the geese running on the shores of the pond using herding skills and her Border Collie instincts. It was not too hard to get the geese to fly off, even though this was our first visit for the year at this property.I was surprised to find a nest on a small island on one of the ponds.It seems very early for that, but it was a warm February.The pair that nests on that island is unusually shy and leave the nest when we show up. Geese pairs usually protect their nests and don’t let anyone near them. That’s why trained and experienced Border Collies and handlers are necessary. We do not touch nests unless the property owner obtains a federal permit to addle the eggs. This property used to have a big problem with geese nesting in the parking lot.Male geese would attack people as they tried to get in or out of their cars.
So it was back home, Skye and Nash did very well considering how early in the season it is. I was pleased with Skyes’ thoughtful moves as she worked the geese. And Nash is showing a great interest in his work and understanding what to do.I don’t recommend mix breeds or any other for this kind of work. But Nash needed a home, and our Border Collies have mentored him. It was back to our snowbound town and evening chores and supper with Lori and Caleb. Soon enough it will all melt, and we will happily plant our gardens, put the sheep and poultry on pasture with the dogs’ help. And we will practice our herding skill with the sheep keeping our selves sharp for goose control work and sheepdog trials. So, an early goose control season day ends. At the hight of the season, in Spring, one handler and dogs will run as many as six visits in a shift, happy dogs.