The Canada goose: celebrating the extraordinary in the ordinary | Isabella Lupi | TEDxRundleAcademy

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

When was the last time you took a good look at the ordinary Canada Goose? In this charming talk, Isabella Lupi asks us to find the extraordinary in all ordinary creatures. She also asks us to care for ALL animals, as they are all part of the grand scheme of life.

For most people,

the Canada goose is at best, ordinary,
and at worst, a pest

that ruins the lawns of public places.

The pest part is true.

They can be annoying, they're loud,

and they bug people by asking for food

which by the way, it's our fault,

because we started feeding them
in the first place.

However,

these birds are far from ordinary.

One of the main reasons
why the goose should not be ignored

is that there is a serious decline
in the population this 21st century.

Migration patterns have to change
for the Canada goose

because some areas have
little food supplies for them.

The geese can struggle
to find ways to live in the city,

but they can live
almost 24 years in the wild

if provided
with a clean and healthy habitat.

In the city, not only the Canada goose
but other birds are eating garbage

getting sick and dying.

It's good to consider these things,

because if the goose ends up extinct,

it will make an impact on the ecosystem.

For example, if a certain predator
to a species of fish becomes extinct,

and one of the only predators left
is the Canada goose,

then the Canada goose becomes extinct,

the fish will overpopulate
and take over other animals habitats.

What makes them unique?

What I found fascinating
is that the Canada goose mates for life,

and they know where to migrate.

We, humans, need GPSs to find our ways.

(Laughter)

As for the Canada geese,
they somehow have GPSs in their brain.

But how do they know where to go?

There's still a lot of things
we still don't know about them,

about this remarkable bird.

I'm only using the Canada goose
as an example.

There are many animals out there
that don't seem that important,

but they are important

because everything plays

a vital and necessary role
in the ecosystem.

We should protect their habitats,

we should not feed them,

and we should not over hunt them.

We can help the Canada goose

by donating money to organizations
like World Wild Life Fund for Nature.

If we start paying more attention

on the animals that aren't so cute
and might seem like pests,

and don't seem purposeful,
or worth saving,

we'll come to realize and celebrate

the beauty and importance
of ordinary things.

After all, we are all extraordinary
in our ordinariness.

(Applause)