UPDATED: thursday 28 april 2011
Deer Guarded Nesting Goose; Goslings Leavewst... note: we appreciate all those who had bookmarked this page to view and/or find the cemetery webcam from.
WGRZ has a major update to this "en-deering" story we brought to you from Forest Lawn Cemetery.
The mother goose and her six or seven goslings have apparently "flown the coop" after they hatched in the past day or so. They were seen under the mother goose in the nest urn earlier on Wednesday but then were photographed leaving the nest and walking around the cemetery. So far there is no sign of the deer which was apparently watching over them.
Ever since they were spotted in early April, it was like a scene right out of a Disney movie. The mother goose had lost her lifelong mate and was now left alone to create and tend to her nest in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, NY. She spent the day sheltering her eggs from the cool spring air inside an empty urn she had chosen as home. ~ link/video
UPDATE: the deer finally! 4:57 pm cdt tuesday 19 april 2011
UPDATE: we've still not crossed paths with the deer. wgrz has what looks to be a nice new web cam up though. this is a screen grab from it at 4:53 pm cdt monday 18 april 2011. embed links below.
UPDATE: wgrz: goose deer cam down until monday morning 18 april 2011.[goose deer cam back up as of 1640 cdt monday 18 april 2011]Lotusmachine
9:58 AM on April 16, 2011
I hope they didn't take down the webcam because of the deer not being around. I have been watching that poor goose getting pummeled by the wind and rain, and have been on the edge of my seat as I have watched raccoons pass by. If those raccoons had any idea there were goose eggs right there it would have been over. I wish the webcam was a little more clear, especially at night. It is kind of hard to see what is going on sometimes. There was one moment when I thought a raccoon was actually invading the nest. I feel so sorry for that goose that she has to go through this alone without her mate to help her. How will she eat? Can she leave the nest from time to time? What if that urn fills up with water from the rain? I have been so worried about that. I am totally hooked and want to see this through. There is a high wind advisory over the next couple of days with more rain on the way. That goose is so exposed, I hope she doesn't give up. It will be so rewarding if she can get through it and have a bunch of little goslings. Please get that webcam back up!!!
6:07 PM on April 16, 2011
Yay! At 5:06 pm, central time I snapped a picture of the deer as he or she walked past the camera! Lucky I had my cell phone right here.
radicalred
6:29 PM on April 16, 2011
@ nygirlz -- First the knuckleheads at the Niagara Gazette posted the location, then the blockheads at the Buffalo News followed suit. I don't understand why it was necessary to give out the location? Yesterday I saw a man with 3 young children hanging around near the goose's location, pointing at the urn. Seriously, who takes their kids to a cemetery as an outing? "Hey kids, what do you want to do today? Go to Chuck E Cheese or the cemetery?" Sheesh
The Story of the Goose & Deer
It's a scene right out of a Disney movie, mother goose has lost her lifelong mate and is now left alone to create and tend to her nest in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, NY. She spends the day sheltering her eggs from the cool spring air inside an empty urn she has chosen as home.
The loss of her male partner and guardian now makes her vulnerable to any would-be predators that choose to approach the nest. But, in an unlikely twist of fate, an adult deer has befriended the mother goose, taking over the role of protector.
This animal arrangement is highly unusual, since there's no known way that a deer and goose can communicate. Yet somehow the deer has come to understand the need of the nesting mother.
The deer now spends its days near the urn acting as guardian when needed. As passersby approach the area the deer stands and places itself between the person and the nesting goose.
On one occasion the deer even took a protective stance attempting to fend off a barking dog near the area of the urn.
Craig Cygan owner of Borders on Patrol, a company hired to move the goose flock from time to time says a goose would normally attempt to fend off the deer with loud honks and raised wings especially near the nest. This one, he says seems to like the company.
How this nature story ends is anyone's guess, but now we can all watch as the goose and deer spend time together.
Meteorologist Andy Parker
WGRZ-TV
Here's a little more information about the place the deer and goose call home.
Forest Lawn Cemetery was created by Charles Clarke with nature in mind, and was one of the first in the country to be designed with attention to a landscape plan.
Today Forest Lawn remains a serene setting, providing sanctuary to wildlife and mankind alike.
In addition to the goose and deer you may occasionally see rabbits and turkeys pass by as well as numerous winged species.
The goose and deer reside in the original portion of the cemetery which dates back to 1849.
The urn in which the goose sits is in close proximity to the resting place of many individuals with ties to American history and culture.
For instance, former United States President Millard Fillmore & the inventor of the jet airplane Lawrence Bell are just a short distance away, while the first African American woman to run for president Shirley Chisholm & Grammy winning recording artist Rick James are located just off the hill.
