Is someone luring the Lincoln Park Geese into the street?

[Jeannie]

I don’t mean on purpose (I hope!). But yesterday, the parents and the remaining baby were right on the sidewalk near the ferry terminal/Cove Park. They were heading toward the busy street, with cars and motorcycles zooming by. A kind police officer (a woman, I didn’t get her name) was able to guide the geese away, back toward the beach, using some scraps of food. Another woman, a WSDOT employee, helped. One of the women said it was possible that someone who lives on the hillside across the street is putting out food for the geese. NOT a good idea, as the geese then cross the dangerous road. So, if you want to put out food for them (though it probably isn’t necessary), leave it by the shore, in a safe place. Or, better still, please keep your distance, as the parents are very very protective of their baby goose and the dad can be justifiably aggressive if you approach.

Share This

[WSB]

That might explain their crossings. Yesterday morning someone e-mailed us, panicked that she had just seen the three on the sidewalk and one possibly dead. I went down the hill to look and the three were on the east side of the street, with one adult clearly sleeping (head tucked into feathers), the other one standing guard, and the baby appearing also to be asleep. Before parenthood, I don’t remember anecdotes about the white geese wandering on the inland side – only photos and stories from the beach (and having encountered what I imagine are “ancestors” of these, as far back as our now-adult son’s toddlerhood, on the shore). – TR

• This reply was modified 7 years, 5 months ago by WSB.

Share This

[Bonnie]

My daughters friend lives on the street the geese are going to. I’ll have her ask her if someone is feeding them.

Share This

[mehud7]

Does anyone have any ideas why the geese are crossing the street? It sounds like it might be for food. Do they go up the stairs on the east side of the street? Perhaps someone at the bus stop is feeding them? I am happy to make flyers to post at the bus stop and at nearby homes discouraging the feeding of the geese.

Share This

[Jeannie]

Bonnie and Mehud7, that is so kind of you both. Please keep us posted. Thank you.

Share This

[mpento]

I don’t know but maybe this is related to the eternal philosophical question about another avian species and why did it cross the road. Is it possible that we may finally have a solution to this age old question or are we seeing the beginning of a phenomenon where the behavior has spontaneously transferred to another bird. Will this mystery of why did the geese cross the road become as baffling as the actions of the common chicken.

Share This

[mehud7]

mpento, considering that two goslings in this family were just hit by a vehicle and killed, your comment is neither funny nor appropriate.

Share This

[Author]

Posts