NEWS FROM WILBURVILLE
CURRENT GOOSE COUNT: 33
11/10/12 So much has happened over the past 2+ years. We have not kept this site updated as often as we would like. We have been using Facebook for quick updates on the gaggle.
Many of our geese are no longer with us, thanks to predators, both human and animal. The most serious is the goose napping of 5 of our beloved geese this past spring. Wilbur and several of his companions were stolen one weekend last spring. One was returned to us with a slightly injured wing. Despite the efforts of hundreds of people, we still have no leads on what happened to our beloved Wilbur. We and the rest of the gaggle bravely carry on with Wilbur's spirit guiding us.
Some new geese have joined the gaggle. A large Chinese gander and a medium-sized African female were rescued by Charles and brought out to the lake about 2 weeks after Wilbur's disappearance. The gander has been named Droid, due to the way he walks in the water. Another large gander and a tiny Chinese goose were dropped off by an unknown person. They were quickly dubbed Andy, as in Raggedy Andy, and Annie....spunkly little Annie, one feisty goose. Andy has disappeared. He didn't like to swim and seldom stayed with the rest of the gaggle so we fear a predator may have gotten him. The other three geese have adapted beautifully and are now healthy and strong. Droid has overcome his distrust of people and now loves to stand on our feet while being fed. He is a bit zealous so we caution people not to feed this giant gander! Spunky Little Annie has teamed up with Patches and they are quite the cute couple.
No one goose has emerged as a leader to take Wilbur's place. Each mini-gaggle within the larger gaggle has its own leader. The group has learned to heal and, once again, work together to thrive.
For more information and pictures, join Wilbur Goose on Facebook.
Many of our geese are no longer with us, thanks to predators, both human and animal. The most serious is the goose napping of 5 of our beloved geese this past spring. Wilbur and several of his companions were stolen one weekend last spring. One was returned to us with a slightly injured wing. Despite the efforts of hundreds of people, we still have no leads on what happened to our beloved Wilbur. We and the rest of the gaggle bravely carry on with Wilbur's spirit guiding us.
Some new geese have joined the gaggle. A large Chinese gander and a medium-sized African female were rescued by Charles and brought out to the lake about 2 weeks after Wilbur's disappearance. The gander has been named Droid, due to the way he walks in the water. Another large gander and a tiny Chinese goose were dropped off by an unknown person. They were quickly dubbed Andy, as in Raggedy Andy, and Annie....spunkly little Annie, one feisty goose. Andy has disappeared. He didn't like to swim and seldom stayed with the rest of the gaggle so we fear a predator may have gotten him. The other three geese have adapted beautifully and are now healthy and strong. Droid has overcome his distrust of people and now loves to stand on our feet while being fed. He is a bit zealous so we caution people not to feed this giant gander! Spunky Little Annie has teamed up with Patches and they are quite the cute couple.
No one goose has emerged as a leader to take Wilbur's place. Each mini-gaggle within the larger gaggle has its own leader. The group has learned to heal and, once again, work together to thrive.
For more information and pictures, join Wilbur Goose on Facebook.
4/10/2010 Spring has fully arrived at White Rock Lake. Lots of bird activity! The geese are all very happy with lots of nice spring greens to eat. They spend most of their day grazing near Dreyfuss or near Winfrey Point. They seem happiest at this time of year.
The last Great American White Pelican left Sunset Bay last Wednesday, April 7. The first ones arrived in early September. They are usually all gone by April 15. They fly back to the northern lakes to breed and spend the summer. We all miss them.
Coot numbers have dwindled also as they migrate back north. Cormorants are also leaving.
We have been visited by several different birds as they head back north. One Canadian goose stayed for a couple of weeks and visited the nightly feeding session with the ducks and the geese, enjoying a feast of corn and grain.
Several varieties of ducks passed through.
The wood ducks are back and nesting. The males with their bright plumage and distinct markings make such a beautiful addition to the lake. Mallards are busy mating and nesting.
Fish are spawning. We see large pools of carp and other fish off of the point and bay area.
Wilbur recently got his own Facebook page. He can be friended under Wilbur Goose. He may not be able to play games with you...though he does play animal games with some of his young friends and their parents...he would love to be your friend. Friend Wilbur and keep up with his activities several times a week on Facebook!
The last Great American White Pelican left Sunset Bay last Wednesday, April 7. The first ones arrived in early September. They are usually all gone by April 15. They fly back to the northern lakes to breed and spend the summer. We all miss them.
Coot numbers have dwindled also as they migrate back north. Cormorants are also leaving.
We have been visited by several different birds as they head back north. One Canadian goose stayed for a couple of weeks and visited the nightly feeding session with the ducks and the geese, enjoying a feast of corn and grain.
Several varieties of ducks passed through.
The wood ducks are back and nesting. The males with their bright plumage and distinct markings make such a beautiful addition to the lake. Mallards are busy mating and nesting.
Fish are spawning. We see large pools of carp and other fish off of the point and bay area.
Wilbur recently got his own Facebook page. He can be friended under Wilbur Goose. He may not be able to play games with you...though he does play animal games with some of his young friends and their parents...he would love to be your friend. Friend Wilbur and keep up with his activities several times a week on Facebook!
ABANDONED BABIES
With the arrival of spring, comes the arrival of orphaned birds...orphaned by humans who thought they wanted them as pets and didn't realize the responsibility of caring for the birds. Usually, we see ducklings and goslings dropped off at the lake 4 to 8 weeks after Easter when the kids are bored with their new pets and/or Mom and Dad are tired of caring for them. Unfortunately, these birds are usually imprinted with humans and have no survival skills for living at the lake. Without a mother to raise them, they become a quick meal for owl, bobcat, coyote, raccoons, etc. or a new "toy" for unwise visitors who catch them.
The two ducklings above, a Pekin, and a mallard, arrived a week before Easter. Charles is fostering them until they are old enough to be released at the lake. He brings them to the lake each night to accustom them to the surroundings. The geese have taken quite an interest in them, often hissing and fussing if a child handles the ducklings.
Charles has named them Manny and Mo. They have doubled in size in the two weeks he has cared for them. They also run verrrry fast! When they sense danger, they run for the humans in the Friends of Wilbur group and stay by our chairs, knowing they will be safe there.
It is our hope that people will stop buying ducklings, goslings, chicks, and bunnies as Easter pets for their children unless they are committed to caring for the animals for the rest of their life. Many of these pets suffer cruel fates. If parents ever heard the cry of a little duckling being snatched by a raccoon, they would never release such helpless babies.
The two ducklings above, a Pekin, and a mallard, arrived a week before Easter. Charles is fostering them until they are old enough to be released at the lake. He brings them to the lake each night to accustom them to the surroundings. The geese have taken quite an interest in them, often hissing and fussing if a child handles the ducklings.
Charles has named them Manny and Mo. They have doubled in size in the two weeks he has cared for them. They also run verrrry fast! When they sense danger, they run for the humans in the Friends of Wilbur group and stay by our chairs, knowing they will be safe there.
It is our hope that people will stop buying ducklings, goslings, chicks, and bunnies as Easter pets for their children unless they are committed to caring for the animals for the rest of their life. Many of these pets suffer cruel fates. If parents ever heard the cry of a little duckling being snatched by a raccoon, they would never release such helpless babies.
3/17/2010 It has been several months since we have updated our website and we apologize. Normally, it is updated once a month.
A lot has happened in the past few months. The geese came back to Sunset Bay when the pelicans arrived and have stayed in the area since. They have gotten over the trauma of last July's slaughter and are happy and healthy. Unfortunately, we have lost several geese: Wilbur's beloved Priscilla, Patches' little companion, Squeaky, and several others. Two more Pilgrim geese were added as an anniversary gift to Bill and Colleen from their daughter. They are doing well.
Wilbur also has a new companion. Her name is Lucy and she is a small white Chinese goose. Very sweet!
Punch and Judy, who were residing in Annette's backyard are no longer in residence. Judy disappeared one day and a very distraught Punch cried for days. No amount of consoling or trying to assimilate him into the lake environment worked. He now resides at the Wildlife Rescue in Hutchins where, we hope, he is learning to be a goose. We can only assume a bobcat wandering through took Judy. We miss them both.
Patches, upon losing Squeaky, embarked on finding a new family. He was not accepted into most of the geese groups as he wanted to be the alpha goose. He is now the proud leader of a duck family: two Pekin ducks and one mallard. He quite happily guards them and brings them up to eat grain each night. He pecks all the other ducks and coots and makes way for his family. He is very protective of his ducks!
Spring is here and mating is in full swing. Geese and ducks are all paired up with the males closely guarding their females. Our sweet Romeo has found a new mate. He had been lonely after losing Juliet last summer. She is a tiny little African goose but is very sweet. She has not yet been named.
Our docile little Spotty attacked Wilbur because he got too close to Spotty's precious Betsy while she was eating. They are all fun to watch and the bay is quite a scene of activity.
A Northern Shoveler has been hanging out with the mallards. Pintails and an American Wigeon were also spotted.
Wood ducks are returning to the lake. We have seen as many as seven at Sunset Bay in the late evenings.
A group of Mexican Whistling ducks came through for a brief visit.
A bald eagle was spotted at Sunset Bay but hasn't been seen lately.
Lots of visitors!
A lot has happened in the past few months. The geese came back to Sunset Bay when the pelicans arrived and have stayed in the area since. They have gotten over the trauma of last July's slaughter and are happy and healthy. Unfortunately, we have lost several geese: Wilbur's beloved Priscilla, Patches' little companion, Squeaky, and several others. Two more Pilgrim geese were added as an anniversary gift to Bill and Colleen from their daughter. They are doing well.
Wilbur also has a new companion. Her name is Lucy and she is a small white Chinese goose. Very sweet!
Punch and Judy, who were residing in Annette's backyard are no longer in residence. Judy disappeared one day and a very distraught Punch cried for days. No amount of consoling or trying to assimilate him into the lake environment worked. He now resides at the Wildlife Rescue in Hutchins where, we hope, he is learning to be a goose. We can only assume a bobcat wandering through took Judy. We miss them both.
Patches, upon losing Squeaky, embarked on finding a new family. He was not accepted into most of the geese groups as he wanted to be the alpha goose. He is now the proud leader of a duck family: two Pekin ducks and one mallard. He quite happily guards them and brings them up to eat grain each night. He pecks all the other ducks and coots and makes way for his family. He is very protective of his ducks!
Spring is here and mating is in full swing. Geese and ducks are all paired up with the males closely guarding their females. Our sweet Romeo has found a new mate. He had been lonely after losing Juliet last summer. She is a tiny little African goose but is very sweet. She has not yet been named.
Our docile little Spotty attacked Wilbur because he got too close to Spotty's precious Betsy while she was eating. They are all fun to watch and the bay is quite a scene of activity.
A Northern Shoveler has been hanging out with the mallards. Pintails and an American Wigeon were also spotted.
Wood ducks are returning to the lake. We have seen as many as seven at Sunset Bay in the late evenings.
A group of Mexican Whistling ducks came through for a brief visit.
A bald eagle was spotted at Sunset Bay but hasn't been seen lately.
Lots of visitors!