Yes, I am asking the question—do crows eat goose poop? This puzzlement is one of the many thoughts that play through my mind as I ride. But there is a specific incident that led me to this particular pondering.
First, let me start by saying today was probably the prettiest August day for riding ever. The whole week has been kept comfortably cool for late summer by winds coming down from Canada. Daily highs have been in the mid-70s with low humidity and plenty of sunshine. Luckily, the weather held into Saturday; it was so comfortably cool for late August that it didn’t matter that we had a late start and didn’t head out for our ride until after 3:00. In fact Bill had joked that had we gotten up to ride at 6:00 AM, we would’ve needed to wear our leather jackets.
So here I was on a late summer day not getting wet underpants because I didn’t sweat at all during the ride. And we weren’t the only ones out riding, though we were the only ones on motorcycles. I spotted more than ten bicyclists out and about including two intrepid youths out with their training wheels. One boy on his bike looked at us as we passed and I waved to him to keep his future dreams of motorcycles alive.
Before we headed out, I spotted a bird of prey. At first I thought it was an osprey, but as it flew closer overhead, I made out the white head and brown underside of a young bald eagle. I smiled at this wonderful sight and was hopeful for more fun wildlife during the ride. Despite the beautiful day, though, I only spotted one sulfur butterfly before our ride and one eastern tiger swallowtail later during the ride. And I saw a turkey vulture circling high in the sky with another large bird; however, this bird’s wing shape was different from the turkey vulture. From my research I believe it may have been a gray vulture, but as he was very high in the sky, I can’t be sure.
The squirrels are a bit more assertive this late into the summer. Two ran out in front of Bill during our ride and both just kept right on going as though they owned the road. One of them had something large and white in its mouth, maybe a pale squash though it seems too early for squash. We did have an unexpected sighting. Someone’s pet dog, I believe a little Lancashire heeler, was out in the road. I looked around and only spotted an open garage. He didn’t try and chase our motorcycles, but he was friendly and began approaching us before we moved away. When we came out of the footless stop, which was totally full of feet as a truck was coming so we had to stop, the little dog was heading up the road.
But we rode on, heading up the fast road. We turned into the square lot for U-turn practice where I spotted the crows. As we rode into the square, I looked around to see what so many crows were feasting on. But all I saw was the Canadian goose poop that covered the parking lot. This observation led me to wonder if crows do eat poop; the best answer I could find was maybe. However, it is the ability to make such detailed observations from the seat of my motorcycle that lets my mind wander into such profound thinking (HA!). I was grossed out knowing the goose poop was getting all over our tires, but there was no way to avoid it.
We circled back to check on the little dog, but he had made his way home by then. I was happy about that. One disadvantage of motorcycles is they aren’t ideal for carrying things or dogs. Bill isn’t too shot with carrying passengers on the pillion, which is why I get a motorcycle of my own to ride. I could still ponder goose poop eating crows and spot butterflies and birds from the back of a motorcycle, but I wouldn’t have any where near the fun I have working the clutch, rolling on the throttle, and working with the balance of the motorcycle as I turn it around. I also think it’s very healthy and helpful for my aging brain—to multitask with working the motorcycle while observing the wonders of nature around me. I can’t wait for more brain work next week.
Flutterby Biker 