I am a nature photographer who lives in Mishawaka Indiana. In the spring I am always in search of unique shots that depict the wonderful spring season.
This year I had been visiting the neighborhood parks. As always their are many geese with their young strolling around. It’s hard to find a pair actually sitting on their nest keeping the eggs warm. One time I was fortunate enough to find a nest on a small island called Monkey Island.
It was late in the season and almost all the other eggs had hatched. I started going down to the island daily to check on my pair and see if the eggs had hatched. After about four weeks everyone I passed would make the comment that they did not think the eggs would hatch but I continued to watch daily.
Then finally on Mother’s day when I went down to check on the pair, I found the proud parents with six young babies. They were less than 20 hours old. I took up a position and began taking pictures as they followed Mom and Dad around. I expected them to be lead to the boat ramp and into the water. But to my surprise, Mom and Dad took them over to the boulders, along the river. Mom and Dad jumped in, three of the babies followed, but three remained on the rocks wanted no part of that! It was a long distance for a baby gosling to jump, and they started to back up.
At that point Mom or Dad (couldn’t tell the difference) decided to give them a nudge. S(H)e flew up behind them and started herding them toward the edge of the boulder. Eventually they took their “Leap of Faith” into the water. I was fortunate not only to see them do it, but also to take pictures of them in action.
"Leap of Faith"
By: Janet Crouch