Every evening when I leave work I spend some time with these geese, which have nested on a grass island in our office parking lot. I found this article about Canada geese in the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center web site, and it seems quite comprehensive. At one point, after summarizing the objections to the geese, it goes on to say,

We have these negative reactions on one hand, and sheer love for the birds on the other.

The “sheer love” is closer to how I feel; they are sculptural, and though they don’t always move in the most graceful way, their strong coloring and beautiful proportions always make me want to gaze at them for hours.

Here in Illinois, we are on the Mississippi Flyway.