Freedom

This Canada goose had been stuck in the ice of a pond and left behind by its flock. As the ice closed in around it and the day lengthened it looked grim for this magnificent bird. Suddenly a dog appeared at the edge of the pond barking furiously and the goose leaped straight up, catching just enough of the edge of the ice to support its weight and get out of the water. This picture is immediately after it got out of the ice. You can see the hole it was in on the bottom left, the wet footprints as it walks away, wings spread. It took 3 days/2 nights in sub-zero temperatures before this goose was reunited with its flock. The resiliency of nature is truly remarkable.