The Avairy-- aka Gone to the Birds

[Gayla]

I wanna know how a goose got in your tub. Please.

[Arwen]

Originally Posted by gayla

I wanna know how a goose got in your tub. Please.

Basically it's all Eshe's fault. We (Ashton, Eshe, Kimbelle and I) were at Joe's Crab Shack. After dinner we were sitting around teasing, I mean talking. Eshe went out for a cigarette.

When we all left, there were a bunch of people crowded around the front of the building. I get out there and there is this goose. It is literally up against Eshe and folks are petting it and taking pictures.

I see that it has a broken wing. I go into Bird Commando mode and herd it into Eshe even more. Then I loosely grasp the neck and hoist the bird up under my arm.

You'd think I'd done this before. I've never picked up a water fowl in my life. So the kids all have to pet and we discuss how to pet and why it has "teeth things". Yes, Arwen the intrepid wildlife educator.

I proudly announce to one and all that it is a NeNe goose. Then I ask Eshe to grab my keys and purse and food. Eshe, being one smart butch, realizes that he is going to have to help me so he gallantly escorts me and goose to my Blazer. Goose is not happy about sitting in my lap. So goose struggles until goose is on the floor. This is after goose has christened my cute dress.

So we take off and goose sticks its head UNDER my dress. Eshe pretends to be looking out the window while choking. I am sure that he was not howling with laughter at the fact I now have a goose under my skirt. The goose is tasting my inner thigh. I let out a somewhat demure yelp (Okay, I may have screamed out the open window that there was a goose under my skirt) and we drove on. Goose and I and Eshe arrived at my apartment where I put goose in the tub and ran water.

Goose is very very very very tame. As in likes to be petting and doesn't even begin to try to flee.

So I look up all sorts of information. The first thing I discover is that it is not a NeNe but a Chinese Swan Goose (brown variety). She is female. I determined this from reading two web pages. I are so smart.

I'm calling her Josephine and wishing I could keep her.

So, you can see how this is all Eshe's fault.

[Gayla]

Smoking is bad. /lights up

[Arwen]

Originally Posted by gayla

Smoking is bad. /lights up

I do think Eshe may realize that now.

[violaine]

nice of you to help the goose! were you able to locate a wildlife rehabilitator in your area? contacting DNR for your county/state may be able to help you, if you have not found someone already, to take the goose.



ETA: i love research. so, i'm submitting these resources, even if you have found a WR, the links may be of help to someone in the future.

this one seems great, and it offers links to NWRA and IWRC:

http://www.lonestarwildlife.org/

Keep the animal warm, safely contained, and away from loud noises, children, pets, and air conditioning.

DO NOT FEED THE ANIMAL FOOD, WATER, OR MILK until you have spoken with a permitted wildlife rehabilitator. Water can go into the animal's lungs and cause pneumonia. Feeding an animal the wrong food will cause more harm than good.

Most native wildlife are protected by state and federal laws. It is illegal to possess the animal or its nests, bones, feathers, or eggs without the proper permits. Wild animals belong in the wild—they are not pets.

http://www.lonestarwildlife.org/links.htm

http://www.southeasternoutdoors.com/...ilitators.html

[violaine]

"She wouldn’t even say hello to you," said Lynda White, Eagle Watch coordinator for the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland. "She’d take the bird and kiss it on top of the head."

i respected & loved her; she taught me a lot of lessons years ago.

http://www.community-paper.com/Archives/AnnYoung.html

http://theannyoungwildbirdrefuge.com/

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/fea...-this-n-2.html

may she fly free as a bird, and with the birds, gather to communicate, perch on sound-filled limbs, and soar effortlessly over lush fields..

[violaine]

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/20...er=rss&emc=rss


http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/muskrat.htm