Canada Goose and Floating Litter, 1970s

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Canada Goose and Floating Litter, 1970s — Archive & Atlas

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Canada Goose and Floating Litter, 1970s — Archive & Atlas

Unattributed 1970–1979

AA-2026-44CF6A

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A Canada goose stands on a grassy bank, seemingly in deep thought, perhaps about the philosophical implications of being a goose. It looks out over a body of water that offers little in the way of high-drama excitement.

Further out, a smaller waterfowl investigates a piece of floating trash, likely a Styrofoam container or plastic bag. In the 1970s, this was merely part of the scenery, a casual human contribution to the natural world, before anyone had strong opinions about the long-term prospects of plastics in marine environments.

The photographer captured a moment that perfectly encapsulates an era when throwing things away meant throwing them "out there," leaving the local fauna to adapt to these new, buoyant additions to their habitat.

The historian's note

The image depicts a Canada goose on a shoreline and a smaller waterfowl interacting with floating refuse on a body of water during the 1970s. This scene reflects the common environmental conditions and public attitudes towards waste disposal in the period.

During the 1970s, although environmental awareness was growing, evidenced by the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970, casual littering and the disposal of non-biodegradable materials into natural ecosystems remained widespread practices across North America and beyond.

The presence of plastic or Styrofoam debris in a natural waterway, observed alongside wildlife, provides a visual document of the challenges posed by increasing consumer waste and the nascent stage of environmental protection efforts in the mid-to-late 20th century.

Subjects & keywords — each links to a search

1970s era·Canada goose·environmental pollution·floating litter·vintage photography·ecological impact·pond scene·water body·wildlife observation·natural habitat·waste disposal·waterfowl·muted color palette·shoreline·duck·outdoor light

Canada goosesubject · depicts Anatidaesubject · depicts

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