Spring has arrived at MacKenzie Marsh Aurora

The sun is shining and the sky is a beautiful blue, I definitely need a little walk.  Feels lovely outside of my house but a wee bit chillier over at the marsh with the breeze blowing.  There is still a thin layer of ice on some parts of the pond, but it hasn't stopped the influx of the swans, geese and 100's of other little birds (which were being very evasive today).

A quick walk was a great way to spend my lunch hour as I took a break from work.  3000 steps with stops for pictures and chatting along the way.

 There are 5 swans so far, 2 adults and 3 yearlings.  Who were being very shy.  Last fall 24 swans stopped over for a holiday on their trip south.

 Must be lots of activity in the pond water as all the birds were diving for food.  Everyone seemed to be paired off, so mating season is in full swing.

 This young lady is protecting her nest.  She is a little close to the boardwalk, but looks like a very comfy spot.

 These 2 seem to be trying to either build their nest or were making sure that no one or thing came close to them, the noise they made would wake the dead.

 These 2 were not happy with the photographer creeping closer.  (Not me I've seen a goose get mad before and I can't run fast enough anymore to get away)

It truly is a wonderful time of year, new growth, new birth, snowbirds returning.  6 weeks from now the marsh will be budding and there will be chirps and cheeps and lots of babies coming into this world.  I wonder if they are as glad to live in Aurora as I am :).

btw if you are looking for an interesting story about the naming of the Canada Goose, check out this blog.

"The Canada goose was one of the many species described by Carl Linnaeus in his 18th-century workSystema Naturae.^[3] It belongs to the Branta genus of geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the grey species of the Anser genus. The specific epithet canadensis is a New Latin word meaning "from Canada". "