Les Oies Blanches-White Geese!

    Apparently all the stories of birds flying south for the winter originated here.  We have a nice-sized reservoir near us and about a week ago we noticed large groups of white birds resting on the water. The number has increased over the last week to the point that the water looks more white than blue.  A few days ago we noticed that Victoriaville was holding a fete this weekend to celebrate the white geese. A little googling provided some interesting facts about this annual phenomenon.  Apparently the geese congregate here because hunting is not allowed; they somehow know this, and thus can rest safely.  Most of these are white Arctic geese, not the Canadian geese we sometimes see in the U.S., although there are some these darker ones as well.  They seem to come in the early afternoon, and by early evening hundreds of them are flying, in formation, away from the lake.  It is something to see and hear, but it is nearly impossible to capture the whole effect in  a picture. However, here are some of the fabulous pictures my talented Elder Peterson took: