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Geese head to the waterfront to avoid predators Continued from page 1 3 · Thursday, June 28, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com day just because of the amount of goose poop. So this gives us a bit of a break from the geese, from a maintenance aspect, as well as for residents who want to enjoy our parks for picnics and strolling in the summer months." Getting the large birds to comply with the deportation order is no easy task. As the Canada Goose is a nationally-protected species, the Town must first get a permit from the Canadian Wildlife Service approving the relocation. Mark said the permit the Town applies for covers the relocation of up to 1,000 geese. The relocation is carried out in partnership with Mississauga with Oakville staff helping in the neighbouring city's goose relocation efforts and Mississauga city staff reciprocating with the Oakville effort. Including Mississauga staff, Mark said, the operation in Oakville on June 20 involved approximately 40 people. This time of year, he noted, most of the waterfowl are not able to fly due to the molting of their flight feathers and so they congregate around the waterfront where they have an avenue of escape, if approached by a predator. As such, the relocation plan begins in the water. "We use boats in the early morning hours, usually starting around 6 a.m. The geese are often in the water at that time of day. We kind of corral them, get them to come along the shoreline and up at various points along the water- front where we can load them into a truck," said Mark. "They normally come ashore at various locations. The larger locations for us are Coronation Park, Bronte Beach Park and Lakeside Park where we've got good access. The birds just walk up on the shore, there are a number of staff there that shoo them into a group. Eventually there are some snow fences set up by a truck and they are all just held within the snow-fenced area and then one by one they walk up the ramp that goes into the back of the truck." Mark said the Town has been performing See No page 4 Diane Harty / special to the beaver waterfront. roundup: Geese are corralled along the Inside Opinion.............................................6 Health.............................................19 Sports..............................................22 Classified........................................28 Partial Delivery: Ashley Furniture, Pharma, Freshco, Food Basics, Metro, Longo's, M&M Meats, Pizza Hut, Techo Bloc, Drug Trading, Ontario College, Ambiance Beauty Salon, Sterling Houes Interiors, JYSK, The Bay, Sobeys, Zellers, Future Shop, Home Outfitters, Sears, Pharma Save, No Frills, Superstore, The Brick, Walmart, Best Buy, Canadian Tire, Shoppers Drug Mart, Fortinos, Bouclair For home delivery & customer service call (905) 845-9742 Mon., Tues. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed., Thu., and Fri. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (open for calls only after 5 p.m.) Closed Sat. and Sun. New subscriptions call (905) 845-9742 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com BIRTHDAY PARTIES SPROUTS WITH BOYS & GIRLS ROCK OUT AT LITTLE include updos, hair feathers, costumes & interactive dancing games 380 Dundas Street East, Unit D12 Oakville, Ontario L6H6Z9 (SE Corner of Trafalgar and Dundas) GIRLS BIRTHDAY PARTIES include interactive video games with individual controllers for eight party guests, hairstyling & awards ceremony BOYS BIRTHDAY PARTIES www.littlesproutscutsforkids.com Party must be booked before August 31 2012. One coupon per party. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Coupon must be presented at time of booking. (905) 257-7750 10 % OFF PARTY PACKAGES BIRTHDAY PARTY & Family Owned... Family Values... Always Valuing your Environment BIG SALE % 70 EVERYTHING UP TO Really THE BIG OFF J.M.C 905-878-8595 Ask for John LTD Concrete Interlocking · STAMPED CONCRETE · INTERLOCKING · EXPOSED AGGREGATE · FLAGSTONE · FRENCH CURBS · RETAINING WALLS · GARAGE FLOORS · FREE ESTIMATES www.jmcconcrete.ca 183 Lakeshore Road East Downtown Oakville www.garveys.ca 905.845.8911