Reading outdoor magazines like Outdoor Life, Field and Stream and Sports Afield when growing up in the 1950s and 60s made me wish to do things I never really expected to do. I have accomplished an amazing number of them, from fishing for Cutthroat Trout in the Yellowstone River to catching salmon on a fly rod in Alaska.
Many of the simple things also intrigued me. I wanted to hear the haunting call of a loon at daybreak on a lake. I thought the sound of wild geese flying and calling at night would be amazing.
Loons and Canada geese were not present where I fished and lived in Georgia. But through management and conservation, both are now common on area lakes.
One morning at Clarks Hill as the eastern sky lightened, I heard a loon call. I had never heard one but there was no doubt in my mind what it was. The call has been called “eerie – wild – aching” in both poetry and outdoor articles and it fit those descriptions perfectly.
Canada goose calls can be somewhat jarring, but the first one I heard while fishing at night, with a full moon over my shoulder, fit this poem perfectly:
“One wild-goose call —
and even brighter shines
the midnight moon.”
Geese and to as lesser extent loons have made a comeback thanks to the work of Ducks, Unlimited and state and federal conservation agencies. Protecting wetlands, a major goal of Ducks, Unlimited, has benefited multiple species of wildlife, from loons and geese to mallards and songbirds.
Ducks, Unlimited has conserved more than 15 million acres since 1937. They raise money through local banquets and other fund raisers and work with state and federal wildlife agencies to conserve wetlands and other projects to benefit waterfowl and other wildlife.
Many projects are far from us but affect our wildlife, especially waterfowl, in many ways. Protecting loons north of us allowed them to spread to the south, increasing their range.
Some geese migrated to Georgia, most of them to the coastal areas, for years. But projects in Georgia to increase habitat for them, for example the big waterfowl sanctuary on Lake Walter F. George, brings more to our state.
And back in the 1980s the Georgia DNR worked to establish a resident flock of Canada geese here. They made big pens on lakes like Clarks Hill and clipped the wings of adult geese so they could not migrate north in the spring. That forced them to nest here and raise goslings that were never taught to fly north in the spring.
Geese calling at night from that flock started on Clarks Hill made me feel wild and free, and intensified the joy of a perfect night on the lake for me. It is no wonder to me poetry has been written about that sound and the feelings it brings.
Since 1985, money from Ducks, Unlimited has helped conserve more than 22,000 acres of wetlands right here in Georgia. The Ducks, Unlimited Georgia affiliate organization has more than 20,000 members and 1400 volunteers. The national Ducks, Unlimited organization has about 700,000 members working for conservation.
Currently, Ducks, Unlimited has delivered more than 20,000 conservation projects all across North America. Right here in our state there are 24 projects involving Ducks, Unlimited helping waterfowl and wildlife.
Many people like me do not hunt waterfowl but are members due to the good work the organization does in our state and nationally. Dues are reasonable and go to a good cause.
Banquets are fun events for attendees and raise money for the cause. Upcoming events near us are October 20th in Conyers/Rockdale County, Covington/Newton County on November 3rd and Fayette County in Tyrone on November 3rd. Attend one for fun and a good cause.
You can find more information on Ducks, Unlimited and the work they do, as well as events, at https://www.ducks.org/
