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Bolling Building crisis that's for the birds
By adamg on Wed, 05/03/2023 - 11:18am
Before and after photos.
Update: Boston Animal Control arrived today and took the geese, presumably to a place where they can splash around and do other geese-type stuff.
Geese aren't supposed to be hatching their eggs on rooftops, but employees at BPS headquarters in the Bolling Building in Nubian Square reports one feathered couple has done just that - and now they're worried how the goslings will survive.
A BPS staffer forwarded photos of the honking parents and their newborn up on a tiny terrace on the third floor. Boston Animal Control has told BPS they can swing by tomorrow, but workers wonder if the goslings can make it that long.
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Comments
Going to be a long waddle
The nearest water is the Muddy River. Once they've taken the elevator down to the street, Officer Michael is going to guide them across Tremont, Mass Ave, and the Fenway.
Unexpected consequences
Green roofs are all the rage, but it does look like they have some side effects.
Not just "the rage"
They do actually do some good for the buildings they cover. This is one minor issue compared to the positives.
Maybe BPS should learn about evolution?
Look, I totally understand getting invested in the birds outside your window. But Canada Geese are not exactly endangered. And should you be encouraging the success of genes that lead this pair to nest on a 3rd floor roof?
Didn't this same thing happen
Didn't this same thing happen on the roof of the WGBH building a few years ago, and MSPCA came and moved the geese to the ground?
school system
They run a school system, but can they teach a bird to fly?
I don't get this
Birds nest in tall buildings all the time. In the short term, the parents will provide food. In the longer term, the goslings will learn how to fly. And if none of this works, that's nature as well.
Geese need access to water.
Geese need access to water.
Not necessarily
Like ducklings, goslings feed themselves; mom & dad just guide them. The day they hatch they are able to walk and swim, and will peck at anything that strikes them as edible, mostly tender shoots and insects. The photos make it look like they are on a "green" roof; let's hope there's enough for them to eat for the next month or two.
Interesting
I learned something today. Thanks.
goslings swim before they fly
Wood ducks actually jump out of trees to get to water, but is only 10 feet or so. I would worry that few of the goslings would jump off the roof.
Help the goslings
As a start the city should identify the underlying structural issues that led to this situation and then provide wraparound services and other supports
Magoo sez
Magoo sez in a cute cuddly voice: those wittle snuggle packages are so cutesy and asnuggable. Magoo.
Are we seriously not doing 'Adorable!' anymore?!
(n/t)
Story updated
Animal Control came today and took care of things.
Can someone do the same with
Can someone do the same with the BPS admins?
book
How long til someone publishes "Make Way for Goslings"...?