Ronald Goodman Art

"Tuggle's foruteen" - (Canada Geese - Branta candensis)
Acrylic on masonite - Image size - 16"x 20" - $2600

Way back in 1981 was the first time I laid my eyes on a live, wild Canada goose. One late spring afternoon while walking across Mr. Jake Smith's pasture, I saw three geese standing beside a small pond. As I tried to get closer, they flew off honking. After that, seeing geese in the area became more of a common sight. About this time in my life, I worked for Dr W. E. Tuggle after school and on the weekends, helping him cut grass, feed cows, and do other farm chores on his place. "Doc" had a huge 39 acre lake on his property, and was a dedicated waterfowl hunter and enthusiast. At that time the state of Georgia was reintroducing Canada Geese, and Dr Tuggle received 14 pinioned geese to put on his lake. Because they were pinioned, they were not able to fly out of the lake habitat, but they raised young geese, which eventually flew from pond to pond in my neighborhood. Doc knew that I loved to hunt. He warned me once that I better not shoot his geese if I saw them flying around. I was tempted, but I never did. From those 14, and others released throughout the state, the Canada goose has been so prolific and successful in raising young, that they have become a nuisance species in many places. But, it's great to have these entertaining birds around all through the year.