The Canada Geese are starting to gather into huge flocks by the farm pond and the surrounding silage corn neighborhood, and they're getting antsy, settling for a time, then taking off to fly a short distance, then settling, then flying. In the past, that would presage one thing: heading north to the nurseries. You'd know this was about to happen when the first Vees of excited birds appeared in the sky and the migration was on. To be sure, some of our Canadas make that flight along ancient routes, but these days, most of the geese around here are stay-at-homes and don't bother traveling. And, in truth, why should they? Everyone knows what a hassle a long-distance flight can be... and how risky. Evolution has its dictates, but the fact that conditions here have long proven just fine for raising the kidlets has pushed natural selection in a different direction. The Canadas still are moved to make themselves flight-ready in late-February, but when the time comes and they hear their fellow geese winging north, our birds opt for the stars and stripes instead of the maple leaf.