I enjoyed watching this goose making a water landing at one of the Delta Ponds. It made an interesting trough in the water as it landed. I loved the detail in the outstretched wings.

Seeing this goose land so easily and gracefully roused my curiosity about the abilities of birds to fly and to make perfect takeoffs and landings, on land or water. Being a curious soul, I searched online for information and found a very informative book listed at Google Books entitled, "Avian Cognition: Exploring the Intelligence, Behavior, and Individuality of Birds" by Debra S. Herrmann. Unfortunately, the book is quite expensive. But the link below shows an interesting chart listing "Ideas and Inventions Appropriated by Humans from Canada Geese and Mallard Ducks." Note item three, which refers to raising and lowering aircraft landing gear when landing and taking off.

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So what you see in my photo is an example of what humans have copied from nature's acquired wisdom for application in human inventions. Now, the vital question is where did natural creation get this display of wisdom beyond what humans knew?