Comments on: Mother Goose and 4 chicks jump safely from Times’ rooftop nest!

By: Diane Trenam

Diane Trenam — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:51:45 +0000

Gary -
I read several months ago that CC Times had moved from the Shadelands building.
Will we be seeing Mother Goose and her babies this year?
Thanks, Diane

By: Gary Bogue

Gary Bogue — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:33:48 +0000

Margaret: 4 floors is way too high for those chicks to jump. I recommend gathering up the eggs and not allowing them to hatch. The chicks will never survive that far a drop. Also, based on past events of this type, there would be 100 percent mortality for any chicks that managed to survive the drop. On the ground, the chicks would be killed by cars, raccoons, skunks, cats, dogs, foxes, etc. They rarely make it to water. So the most humane solution would be not to allow the eggs to hatch and to shoo the mother away and hope she picks a safer place to raise another family. She will go find another spot and start all over again. I know this sounds cruel, but it isn’t. Letting them jump off the roof is cruel. The only other option … if there’s a wildlife rescue organization in your area, contact them and see if they will take those eggs, hatch them in their incubator and release them in Lake Michigan after they hatch and when they are old enough to make it on their own. Good luck. /Gary

By: Margaret

Margaret — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:25:41 +0000

Gary-
My neighbor has a mallard nesting on his private roof top deck that is 4 floors high in some of his shrubbery. The chicks might be hatching soon and he doesn’t know what to do when she encourages them to jump. There is fencing all the way around the deck. However, that is a steep fall. We are in Chicago in Wrigleyville. Lake Michigan is quite a ways away for them to travel. Please advise. I have forwarded him wildlife links, etc… to ask questions and see if there is any advice for mom and babies.

By: MARGE ROBERTS

MARGE ROBERTS — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 02:32:04 +0000

HI GARY,
WHAT A DELIGHT. I’M THE AUNT OF JOE BOESSENECKER OF THE TIMES. HAVE BEEN WATHCING FOR TWO YEARS NOW. SO MUCH FUN. WHAT A WONDERFUL SITE. NOW AM WATHCING THE HUMMINGBIRDS, ANOTHER WONDERFUL SITE. GREAT WORK

By: Darlene

Darlene — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 01:39:53 +0000

Gary,
Thank you so much for the wonderful story. I as well was sitting watching for the last month and watched as Mother Goose walked away from her nest with her 4 goslings, never to return.
I was heart sick because I was not sure they all made it off the roof unharmed.
Your story and pictures have warmed my heart. Thank you for all you do.

By: Helen Freeman

Helen Freeman — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 01:13:21 +0000

Gary – thanks for the beautiful pictures.
Sad, isn’t it, that we missed the big moment?
Helen Freeman

By: Marilyn Stollon

Marilyn Stollon — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:47:03 +0000

Ha! Outsmarted this year by Mother Goose! What a wonderful respite from all of the “other news” of the week.Thanks for the pics and story…and the beat goes on..

By: Monica

Monica — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 22:34:15 +0000

Wow! Nature’s truly magical—thanks for the amazing story/drama. Geese and success, such a combo—

By: Gary Bogue

Gary Bogue — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:46:50 +0000

Joann: We’ll see (Next year)! /Gary

By: Joann Ludwig

Joann Ludwig — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:41:41 +0000

Well, Gary, after all the hoopla accompanying last years launch, I’m sure Mother and Father Goose said, never again! We launch when nobody suspects it’s coming from now on.