The pond at Bruce Pit was quiet this summer, much more so than last year, when it bustled with wildlife.

But with the arrival of fall, the birds have returned to the Pit. A few days ago, Chris and I sat on the bench overlooking the pond, watching hundreds of Canada geese floating on the water. Every minute, another delegation of geese would arrive. They would approach from a distance, looking like black specks against the bright blue sky. As they got closer, they began their descent to the pond, whiffling if necessary. What's whiffling? According to BirdNote:

Looking at a Canada Goose, you might not think their bodies are designed for fancy flying. But watch as a flock of geese comes in for a landing at a lake and you might be surprised. If the flock comes in too fast or too high above the water, geese have a little trick to slow themselves down for a safe landing. The geese stop flapping and then quickly roll their bodies upside down, while twisting their long necks the right way up. Finally, they rotate again to right themselves just in time to gently splash down. It’s a maneuver called whiffling. It seems to help the geese slow down quickly – but sometimes it might just be for fun.

I imagine that what we felt at Bruce Pit the other day—peace and awe—was similar to what former US president Jimmy Carter felt when he observed Canada geese passing the White House and later captured the moment in his poem "A Reflection of Beauty in Washington":

I recall one winter night

going to the White House roof

to study the Orion nebulae,

but we could barely see the stars,

their images so paled by city lights.

Suddenly we heard a sound

primeval in its tone and rhythm

coming from the northern sky.

We turned to watch in silence

long wavering V’s,

breasts transformed to brilliance

by the lights we would have dimmed.

The geese passed overhead,

and then without a word

we went down to a peaceful sleep,

marveling at what we’d seen and heard.

Jimmy Carter might have been disappointed in the poor viewing conditions for the Orion nebulae. Instead, he noticed something equally pleasing and majestic: a fly-by of Canada geese. There's something to take from the perspective of the former president, who—by the way—celebrated his 100th birthday on October 1, 2024.