Canada geese hold up traffic on High Level Bridge - Action News
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Canada geese hold up traffic on High Level Bridge

A family of Canada geese travelling across the High Level Bridge caused a bit of a traffic slowdown Monday. Spring hatching is in full swing. Some geese are finding nesting spots in urban Edmonton settings.

'It was rare that a traffic jam could make them smile,' helper says of motorists

'It felt like a worthy cause'

7 years ago
Duration 1:23
Three women tied up a lane of traffic to help a family of Canada geese cross Edmonton's High Level Bridge.

An eight-member family of Canada geese travelling across the High Level Bridge caused a bit of a traffic slowdown Monday morning.

Edmontonians were quick to step in and try and help the mother, father and six goslings once they realized that the birds were trapped.

The goslings had got onto the roadway at the north end of the bridge and couldn't climb back up onto the sidewalk by themselves.

That led the featheredfamily to move further out onto the bridge as the parents tried to find a place to get their goslings to safety. Luckilyfor them, they had some human assistance.

"Well, we can either walk on and forget about the goslings and one of them will get squished or we can do something now and we chose to do something now," said Lynette Stanley-Maddocks.

Stanley-Maddocks and Jen Russill were out for a walk when they saw Angel Sundresh trying to assist the lost birds.
This family of geese took a wrong turn and ended up in one of the traffic lanes on the High Level Bridge. (John Robertson/CBC)

Stanley-Maddocks and Russill found a small road sign and tried to use it as a ramp to get the goslings up onto the walking path and out of traffic.

But the birds were not eager to use it and kept moving further onto the bridge.

So, with Sundresh, they used the sign to herd the birds into a single lane and started the long journey across the bridge as traffic squeezed into a single lane to get by.

"A lot of people drove by and said this was the best reason ever to be stuck in traffic, or it was rare that a traffic jam could make them smile, so it all turned out for the best," said Russill.

After an hour and a half of geese herding, they finally managed to get the birds across to the south end of the bridge. From there the family of geese went into the brush on the west side.

Their human helpershugged and thanked each otherfor committing to assisting those in needeven if the geese hissed every time they got tooclose.

"It feels awesome because they are pushed out to live on our streets and because of all the development here, sometimes they get stuck with human world,"Sundreshsaid.

"So it feels nice to get them back into their world where they are safe."
A family of geese make a long walk over the High Level Bridge. (John Robertson/CBC)

Canadageese habitually make Alberta home when they are nesting.

Decks, balconies and rooftops are popular nesting spots. Geese like them because they offer safety from predators.

This leads to some up close encounters with people surprised to find the geese claiming space to lay their eggs.
Bonnie the mother goose turns her eggs before settling once again. (John Robertson/CBC)

For the past four years, Canada geese have tried to nest on Maggie Taylor's deckin the Terwillegar neighbourhood.

Taylor and her husband went out for dinner at the beginningof Apriland when they returned, discovered a new feathered neighbour had laid eggs in a plant pot on their balcony.

"I'm happy, actually," Taylor said. "At first we weren't sure what to expect."
Bonnie stayed on her nest throughout the Edmonton spring storms. (Maggie Taylor)

They've learned a lot about the migratory birds since the goose moved in.

They watched her nest, never leaving her post, even coveredin a spring snow storm. Her mate lives in a nearby pond.

The family named the duo Bonnie and Clyde, because they fought so hard for a spot on the deck.

It is illegal to move Canadageese once they have nested, as they are protected under theMigratory Birds Convention Act.

That leaves property owners with new guests. Canada geese will also try to nest in the same spot every year, so it won't surpriseTaylor if hers come back again next spring.

"They are living creatures so I wouldn't harm them. So we give up the deck for a month,no bigdeal."
The male goose, named Clyde by Maggie Taylor and her family, hangs out nearby the nesting mother. (John Robertson/CBC)