Big beautiful Canada Geese preening on the Rideau River in Spring

Watching these geese preen themselves, gives a whole new meaning to the term, “rubbernecking”. Have you ever thought about the dexterity and flexibility of a gooses neck? It’s one of those weird bird talents such as an owl being able to turn its head almost 360 degrees! Canada Geese, the largest of the many species of geese, have an easier time scratching those hard-to-reach itches than we humans do with our own two arms!

Can you guess why some birds often stand and even roost on one leg? If you guessed heat preservation, you’d be right. Heat is lost through the bird’s legs because they lack feather-cover. So, it’s simple math; a goose with its foot tucked up reduces by half the amount of heat lost through its un-feathered limbs.

But on this particular spring day on the sunny banks of the Rideau River in Old Ottawa South, these Canada Geese seem super chilled-out. In fact, I think that one standing on one leg might be practicing tai chi. Or is it yoga?