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Tobias_Atwood t1_jc8jxna wrote

Wanted: The Goose to My Gander.

Must love long walks through the park and be tolerant of my many many neighbors.

381

LadyAsharaRowan t1_jc8tbcr wrote

If you ever get a chance, read up on these animals. They are monogamous for life. If their significant other gets sick during the migration season, they will not migrate and leave them. If they die, they will not leave their bodies. I actually saw this happen at my job. It's what made me go down the research rabbit hole. It was so sad. I'm surprised they were able to find it another mate.

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Roadgoddess t1_jc8xtzf wrote

Oh my gosh, watch the video, the very end, when the two geese are snuggling with each other is so precious

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avoidance_behavior t1_jc8yv4i wrote

Replying to LadyAsharaRowan (#2,232,046)

not geese, but related: probably fifteen years ago I lived in the guesthouse at my parents' place bc they charged minimal rent for my own separate spot, and the door was a sliding glass situation. one afternoon a mourning dove flew into the glass, which is unfortunately not uncommon when the sun is at the right angle and they can't tell it's not a way through. the poor thing hit the door so hard that it died very shortly after impact; I barely had time to get up from my seat and go see what the commotion was when it slumped and died right on my welcome mat. before I could figure what to do, its mate flew down next to it and laid its head down on the deceased bird and I swear on all that you may or may not believe is holy, it died right there after a few moments of laying still. the other bird didn't hit the glass at all but the only thing I can think happened is that it just gave up knowing its mate was gone. to this day it's one of the saddest but fucked-uppedly sweetest things I've ever seen. I actually cried.

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cat_prophecy t1_jc8zli2 wrote

Randy’s response has to be the most midwestern ever: “Well, that’ll be great”.

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thecwestions t1_jc91ljo wrote

Peace was never an option, but love is still on the table...

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LadyAsharaRowan t1_jc92z0x wrote

Replying to avoidance_behavior (#2,232,323)

I totally believe that it died on the spot from a broken heart.

So where I work at the entire building is glass and it's a tall building. The geese hit the glass windows and landed on one of the patios. It's mate was just walking back and forth circling around it. I totally get crying about it. Like I said it sent me down the research rabbit hole to understand them better.

We have a lot of geese near my building. They have those sound machines that actually try to deter them from landing in the pond nearby, but it doesn't really do much of anything.

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No_Carry_3991 t1_jc940ej wrote

This is actually no joke, the lone goose may die of a broken heart. It happened at a place near me when someone attacked the mate in the middle of the night. He was killed by a knife attack, and soon after, the female died. It made me feel a little better that the townspeople in that area were deeply angry at this, and they put together night watchmen for weeks after, because this had happened before and I guess they were fed up. It made me cry. She left behind two babies. We're not the only ones with hearts.

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Ixium5 t1_jc97vkl wrote

Replying to LadyAsharaRowan (#2,232,046)

Know an animal rescuer in southern states that loves Canada geese. I spent a fair amount of time helping her out. Grabbing ones with broken wings or fishing line on them or whatever in order to get fixed. Or when some idiot tries to run down a flock in a car and hits a few.

They grieve so much they actually cry. It’s super depressing.

The mate will attack you with all they have if you grab their mates. They don’t know you’re trying to help.

Sometimes she has to send them away if the problem is bad enough. Always tries to get them back to the same flock when she releases them. Got the chance to do it a few times with her. We drove 5 hours to grab a repaired goose. It was the happiest I’ve ever seen this rescuer. She said “this is why I love doing this even if I have to deal with all the shitty times” and when we released the ex-injured bird back the mate comes running and quacking and they rub all over each other.

Truly awesome.

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awolfsvalentine t1_jc97xaf wrote

We have 2 male geese that always hang around back. They’re totally in love, we call them Dan and Dan. I can’t imagine Dan losing other Dan someday 🥺

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slaboshmuck t1_jc98ghq wrote

GOTH GOOSE GETS HIS GAL!

(continued on page 9)

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it_all_happened t1_jc99aj0 wrote

Good night!! Going out on a good story for once.

Thank you!! 🦢❤️ 🦢

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IAmA_Nerd_AMA t1_jc9am57 wrote

Replying to Ixium5 (#2,232,799)

After hearing what assholes ducks are about mating I wonder how a cousin species can be so wholesome... Swans and penguins too, right? (That was one of reddits viral moments with the girlfriend crying tears of joy about Swan love)

Maybe they can teach that to their duck bros? Explain in quacks that this is why nobody rescues, rehabs, and reunites ducks.

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msfrank091 t1_jc9asfv wrote

Replying to No_Carry_3991 (#2,232,604)

Of all the targets that person chose to attack a goose and murder it. Even with all of the possible irony that is such a crap move and so sad. Good that the citizens rose up in anger after that tho. Poor bird.

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No_Carry_3991 t1_jc9b6y8 wrote

Replying to msfrank091 (#2,232,946)

So, I was homeless in that area at the time and I passed by that pond every night, on my nightly walk to keep myself awake overnight. When I heard this second attack happened, I was so mad but also freaked out because I might have seen or passed by him, though I made it a point to avoid populated areas at all costs.

They did arrest him. Younger guy. So sad.

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robbiekhan t1_jc9c3jo wrote

Geese are basically flying feathered mini giraffes!

2

taggart_mccallister t1_jc9cgug wrote

This is why I always feel a pang of sadness when i see a single goose by themselves.

6

000f89 t1_jc9iy36 wrote

Replying to avoidance_behavior (#2,232,323)

If your parents still have the guesthouse, they can stick bird-safe films on their glass. The birds will see it and understand they can’t fly through. It can save so many bird lives! Glass kills a staggering amount of birds each year.

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summonsays t1_jc9kdzn wrote

Replying to avoidance_behavior (#2,232,323)

My great uncle basically died the same way. He was this mountain of a man, farmer, gave off that vibe that he could break you in half with a pinky if he wanted. But he was always the nicest guy and his wife was probably the sweetest person I've ever met. We used to go up to their house every Thanksgiving (8 hour drive). His wife developed brain cancer and died. We went up to visit him maybe a month after it happened. He was in a care home. He didn't really respond to us and he probably weighed 60 pounds. Skin and bones, just waiting to die. He died the next week. That's my "sweet but fucked up" story.

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IAmA_Nerd_AMA t1_jc9mgba wrote

Replying to wtf--dude (#2,233,346)

Just being funny. I liked hearing about wholesome geese, it painted a much prettier picture than the untitled goose game. Maybe that was an incel goose.

For a serious answer I'll say with humans: yes we have both but instinct no longer applies, with us it's a choice. That's why we have a great social respect for lifetime partnerships: The choice took mental strength to uphold. It would be different if our DNA forced all of us to be monogamous...or rapists...or whatever cats are.

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Grumpkin_eater t1_jc9mo0v wrote

Did the goose like, live at the cemetery or do they do this for other bereft animals?

1

bl8ant t1_jc9rrmy wrote

(Furiously develops an app called Honkr)

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SkinHairNails t1_jc9u36b wrote

Replying to GrammarHypocrite (#2,233,694)

Grief is just the most absurd and chameleonic emotion. I can't say it's any one thing, truly - in any given moment it might be minimal, it might be overwhelming and crushing waves, it might be funny, it might feel fine and it might feel like you'll never recover. I feel it in my chest so strongly when it's acute. Being able to laugh is strength, even if it doesn't feel like it.

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ExtremeRepulsiveness t1_jc9y8l2 wrote

That whole interview was so cute :) those people are awesome lol. And so are those geese!

1

AlwaysInTheFlowers t1_jc9z1ya wrote

Replying to avoidance_behavior (#2,232,323)

Similar situation happened at my grandparents years ago. Poor bird definitely wasn't going to make it.... in retrospect this wasn't the best idea but I just laid there in the grass with it stroking it's head for a few minutes saying calming things to it before it finally passed. I made sure it was actually dead (I called game and fish and they said there was nothing they could do either) and then I gently buried it in their garden and planted a sunflower over it and gave it a little funeral.

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Dbgb4 t1_jc9zc83 wrote

Love at first honk.

1

rancorog t1_jca3ziz wrote

This would be adorable if it was anything other than geese

−1

xness151x t1_jca5aoq wrote

when something good comes out of Iowa.

1

GrammarHypocrite t1_jca8sot wrote

Replying to SkinHairNails (#2,233,801)

Chameleonic is such a good descriptor for grief! I cannot predict how I'm going to feel from one hour to the next. Just got to keep riding those waves.

I hope wherever you are on your journey that it's kind as it can be to you.

9

YayPepsi t1_jca8u52 wrote

Replying to LadyAsharaRowan (#2,232,046)

At my old apartment there were these two geese who had their eggs on the lawn. They were just sitting there, not bothering anyone or going near anyone. Then some lady saw them and started freaking out like they were going to attack her. She picked up her puppy and was backing away and yelling for help while the geese never got up from their nest. Her freak out was for no reason.

Eventually management got involved. They chased the geese and one woman smashed their eggs. Animal control came and tried to catch them, but only managed to catch one and took it away. It was so sad. The goose who was left behind spent days searching for their mate.

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Maxwell227 t1_jca9r2x wrote

I didn’t have that on my 2023 bingo card…

2

NoMoreChampagne14 t1_jcact3s wrote

Omg I’m so glad I’m subbed to this sub Reddit. This is so sweet.

2

titus1531 t1_jcajafy wrote

This is literally all I need the internet for.

2

LazyLich t1_jcakkbd wrote

When your spouse dies, so aliens take it upon themselves to put out ads for other aliens to see, and they abduct a new spouse for you

7

fruityhalo t1_jcatkcm wrote

This made me tear up a bit. I'm happy both widowed geese found each other and are aren't lonely anymore.

2

CentiPetra t1_jcb23nc wrote

Why is every single story posted in this subreddit actually depressing, and then has some very minor redemption that in no way makes the original circumstance actually any less horrible?

Why can't, for once, we have an uplifting news story that is actually uplifting?

It's always something like, "Six year old born without arms, legs, or eyes who was abandoned in a dumpster behind an Applebees receives over a dozen stuffed teddy bears by the first responders who found him"

2

SharrasFlame t1_jcb3yiu wrote

Replying to GrammarHypocrite (#2,233,512)

My dad became a widower in summer 2020, shortly before his 80s birthday. He was in such deep grief (they were married for over 50 years)... Late last year, he hooked up with a nice lady of similar age (and through online dating!), now she moved in with him.

In other words: Hang in there, there may still be someone for you.

Or who knows, as time passes, you may find happiness without a partner as well. The grief will pass. Slowly, and in waves, but eventually they'll get smaller and smaller.

5

Aalnius t1_jcb55hc wrote

Replying to 000f89 (#2,233,285)

i dunno birds be dumb my bedroom window is super dirty at the moment but it doesn't seem to stop birds scaring the absolute shit out of me every now and again by just flying full pelt into it.

4

calllery t1_jcb5vv7 wrote

Did they put the ad up on Gander?

6

BokononWave t1_jcb6llq wrote

Replying to Aalnius (#2,236,384)

Solid (opaque) elements on windows do work, even if it's dirty it can reflect the sky or nearby trees. If you'd like to reduce the jump scares there are stickers you can put on the glass!

16

If_In_Doubt_Lick_It t1_jcb7ffk wrote

Replying to Aalnius (#2,236,384)

Birds can see light in the uv spectrum. There are films and repellants you can apply that fluoresce to them in daylight. So they can see it and we can not.

Its a fun research dive. Theres a lot of birds that have uv reactive markings that we cannot see on them, but they can.

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Vista101 t1_jcbggk8 wrote

So heartbreaking for the bird.really nice the cemetery is trying for the goose.

3

Tobias_Atwood t1_jcbimlz wrote

Replying to avoidance_behavior (#2,232,323)

I was working a job in the upper floor of an extremely old ass building that had a bunch of different roof access points. This apparently made it a prime shelter for the local pigeons because every time I worked that site there were always at least a few hanging around.

One day I went up there and saw a trio of pigeons off in the corner. Two of them were walking around, not doing much beyond sticking close to the third one. The third one I thought was already dead. It looked old and sick and was so still and unmoving. The only reason I knew it was still alive was because it would occasionally adjust it's feet to get more comfortable.

I worked that site for several hours and through all that time the two other pigeons never left the side of their sick friend. Eventually the sick pigeon looks like it has some kind of pigeon seizure, dramatically falling onto it's side and flopping around. Almost as soon as it started it stops, and the pigeon goes still again.

I just watched a pigeon stroke out and die before my very eyes.

It's two friends inspect it for a moment before going towards the nearest chimney and flying up and out.

It always struck me how they stuck with it to the very end.

Pigeon solidarity.

13

Queseraseras t1_jcbv2vb wrote

This is what I love to see, humans using our brains to help animals in ways they can't always help themselves!

1

Ulpian02 t1_jcbyfk3 wrote

That seems like it could backfire in really weird ways

1

Bhimtu t1_jcckozw wrote

This was the BEST story, how sad for her, and then happiness! And isn't that just awesome, they're now inseparable. Great story!

1