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Honk If You've Seen Lincoln Square's Goose On A Roof

By Patty Wetli | April 26, 2016 9:07am | Updated on April 29, 2016 10:55am

LINCOLN SQUARE — Honk!

You expect to hear the telltale call of geese in parks and along the lake and river, but in the heart of Lincoln Square? From a rooftop?

A lone vocal bird was spotted late Monday afternoon, perched atop 4740 N. Lincoln Ave. (home to Spex and the late Salamander shoe store), acting like he or she owned the place.

The sighting wasn't as rare as this reporter initially thought.

Geese have previously been spotted hanging out on the roof of Cafe Selmarie and across Giddings Plaza at the Fountain View development, where a mother and four baby geese were spied.

It's possible these are the same geese, and that they've made the Square their annual nesting home.

[EveryBlock]

Nesting season for geese takes place from mid-March to May, with geese, who mate for life, typically returning to the exact same nesting site year after year.

A single goose, like the one seen Monday, frequently indicates that a nest is nearby and the bird, most likely the father-to-be, is standing guard. The honking can be interpreted as either a greeting, a call to a mate or a warning to "get off my lawn."

Reporter Patty Wetli needs to work on her goose imitation.

Although ideal nesting sites are near bodies of water, geese tend to get more creative in urban environments. Rooftops are an especially popular choice because they provide concealment for the nest, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

Anyone aiming to confirm the nesting site or get a closer look at the geese, be warned: Geese are aggressive defenders of their nests and young. If the honk turns to a hiss, that's your cue to skedaddle or risk a beaking.

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