An unlikely hotel guest list recently had a happy ending in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood — and no, they didn’t have a reservation.
A family of Canada geese decided to make a swanky boutique hotel rooftop their home. Mom and dad settled into the garden patio, and before long, five fluffy goslings arrived. The only problem? The little ones were way too young to fly, and the nearest pond was four stories down.
Luckily, wildlife expert Michael Waters from AWARE Wildlife Center stepped in to save the day. Even for an experienced rescuer like Waters, this was no simple mission. Between the gusty winds and two fiercely protective parents, getting the family to safety wasn’t easy.
“There were five little goslings, and they were all running in a fright,” Waters said. “The mother and father goose were both present and they both were sort of in their guardian mode and were being very protective.”
Waters’ first priority was to gather the little ones, especially since they were so close to the edge. He scooped the goslings into a box and then tried to catch dad — who wasn’t having it. The father goose fought Waters off, flew right off the building, and started honking loudly at the base.
Next up was the mother goose, who also had escape on her mind. Thinking fast, Waters released the goslings, which made mom come charging to protect her babies. That gave him the opening he needed to safely secure her.
With mom and goslings in tow, Waters headed down to the pond — and who was waiting there but the father goose, already pacing and honking! As soon as the family was reunited, the little goslings’ instincts kicked in. They waddled right into the water like they had been swimming their whole lives.
“It was so lovely to see their little instincts step forward,” Waters said. “They immediately became amphibious and just waddled out and went out with mom and dad, and they all went to go live their wild lives.”
But why would geese pick a rooftop for a nest in the first place? According to Kara Nitschke, a migratory and game bird biologist with Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources, it’s all about the landscape.
“In urban and suburban areas, we keep our grass short like golf courses, parks, neighborhoods,” she explained. “Geese like that because they can walk through that easily.” Plus, rooftops give a great view of nearby ponds — a perfect quick getaway if they feel threatened.
Today, Georgia is home to about 250,000 Canada geese. Many of them settled there after migration patterns changed in the ’70s and ’80s and about 8,000 geese were introduced to the area. Now, these birds are a regular part of city life.
Because Canada geese are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, it’s important to get professional help if you spot a goose (or any wild animal) that needs assistance. Experts like Waters and centers like AWARE are trained and licensed to handle them safely.
For Waters, the mission goes beyond just rescues.
“In any way that we can ameliorate or make better the effects that have consequences for these other beings,” he said, “I want to be someone who gives at least the effort for things to be made better.”
In this case, thanks to quick thinking and a whole lot of heart, a feathered family got their perfect fairytale ending.