West Seattle wildlife: Caution, Fauntleroy goose family crossing!

| Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Last Sunday, our daily preview included the first photo we’d seen of Fauntleroy’s famous white geese and their babies. We didn’t know if they were roaming or ensconced somewhere – but apparently it’s the former, as Eric just sent these photos showing how he and neighbors took care to herd the family safely across Fauntleroy Way by the ferry dock. If you go through that area, PLEASE be extra careful! You can see Eric’s photos – and read the captions – by clicking the Steller image above, and then using the arrows that are toward the center of the display that should open after that.

miws June 25, 2016 (2:57 pm)

That is awesome!

In a few of those pics, it almost appears as if the Goose Family is house shopping!

Kudos to Eric and Crew for getting the Feathered Family safely across busy Fauntleroy!

Mike

ACG June 25, 2016 (3:04 pm)

PLEASE keep your dogs on its leash at Cove Park and Lincoln Park. I cannot count how many times I have see the geese chased by off leash dogs. Now, with babies in the mix, that could have a terrible outcome.

Joe Bags June 25, 2016 (6:31 pm)

True. Geese have been attacked before in this area. Ongoing problem.

cil June 25, 2016 (4:44 pm)

Seen the adorable family this afternoon on the South side of Lincoln Park right on Fauntleroy.

waikikigirl June 25, 2016 (4:57 pm)

I’m asking because I don’t know but why are two of the babies yellow in color and one is white and gray?

And I agree with ACG keep your doggies on their leashes, I’d hate to see those babies get hurt or…

Chemist June 25, 2016 (8:05 pm)

Oddities of genetics, most likely. Maybe some goslings nest in rocky shores and others try to blend in with dried grasses.

Cooke and Ryder (1971) studied the nestlings of Ross’s goose, a small Arctic nesting goose. Goslings (baby geese) exist in two color morphs, grey or yellow. … They assumed that color is controlled by two alleles at a single locus.

http://faculty.uca.edu/benw/biol4415/answers.pdf

The Metal Pirate Odyssey June 25, 2016 (8:33 pm)

This is hands down the best set of photos I have seen this year. How cool is that to see this family wandering around and getting the love!? Hope the little goslings make it another year and grace us with another set next year.

pupsarebest June 25, 2016 (8:48 pm)

Great photos, and so life-affirming to see these beloved creatures, and know so many in our community watch out for them.

Thanks for posting. 🙂

Philip Patten June 25, 2016 (10:57 pm)

I hope the young survive the local rats and raccoons. Over the years I have regularly watched local duck families’ ducklings diminish from five or so to zero, leaving their parents swimming alone. The best thing for the cove’s baby ducks and geese would be a cove-wide rat extermination project. That would need a volunteer coordinator (step right up), planning, and more volunteers. There might be some city program, policy, expertise, or help.

Again, if you are the potential coordinator person who’d like to play Pied Piper to the cove’s rat population, I’d start by contacting the Fauntleroy Community Association. They’d need to be involved and supportive, and might help make sure the process was done in a safe (except to the rats) and legal manner.

Tertiary benefit: Years ago I’d watch a local fox run along the bulkhead. Delightful. Decreasing the rat population might make room in the local ecology for more aesthetic predators.

Kersti Muul June 27, 2016 (11:22 pm)

Wonderful!

Please don’t feed them bread, it’s not good for birds and can give them developmental issues. (Angel wing)

Julia June 28, 2016 (10:03 am)

My hair is getting grayer from the stress of looking out for these guys. I wish they’d stay on the water side of Fauntleroy instead of wandering the neighborhood! They spent yesterday afternoon in the shade of a neighbor’s carport, then had to be escorted back across through rush hour traffic.