Early Birds Get the Warm

Maybe winter started a month early in Canada. Or thoughts of sunny Southern California proved too tempting.

Whatever the reason, about 25 Canada Geese arrived more than a month early for their annual winter stay at the Porter Valley Country Club in Northridge, wading into the pond at the 18th green and posing a sometimes unwelcome distraction for golfers.

The geese usually arrive about the middle of October, but an employee at the club said they surprised club members and employees when they showed up at the beginning of September this year.

Lee Ann Hein, a membership representative for the club, said people were even more confused when the geese suddenly flew off shortly after they arrived, then returned to the country club a few days later.

“As a matter of fact, it perplexes our maintenance supervisor,” Hein said.

“They’ve left a mess all over the golf course” of droppings and molted feathers, she said.