For as long as a selected amount of students can remember, Geese have never really chosen to inhabit our campus for their home. It raises the questions of: why now? Where are they coming from? Do they have the bird flu? Is Marist grass better than Vassar grass? Not only are they filling the grass with themselves, but also, filling the sidewalks with an immense amount of their poop. For some reason, geese find Marist as charming and wonderful as students do.

Since Marist University prides itself on being an open campus, the geese have obviously gotten the memo! 

Students all over have been noticing the increase of birds on campus. The geese would not be that big of a problem if they did not follow with droppings. “They poop too much,” says Aiden Czajak, 27’ when asked about how he feels about the geese. “The geese are the problem, they’re in the way and pooping everywhere,” Mackenzie Nielson 28’ adds. 

Just like any other bird, geese are up and early to get the morning worm. Unluckily for students, their morning breakfast has woken many students from their slumber. Interrupting students from sleep, they are half awake walking to class, unfortunately, they need to be fully awake to avoid stepping in the poop. 

Not only are students warned about slipping on ice, but also geese poop. It’s a new and precautious thought of watching out for the poop, it’s slippery…and smelly. Along with spreading their poop, they can also be aggressive, although there have been no reports of a goose attack on an unlucky student.

The wind chill from the river has not stopped geese from inhabiting the Marist grounds. In fact, geese prefer to stay in areas with a plentiful amount of food and large bodies of water that don’t freeze. Since this winter has been more than brutal, it surprises many that they decided to bear it with us. 

“I don’t understand why they’re here when it’s so cold,” Cate Bergstrand 26’ remarks. “I have to change my route to class because they are in my path and I’m scared,” she continues.  

Geese have been everywhere on campus but the football field, picky eaters, they don’t enjoy eating the turf. They are attracted to grass and the nutrients it brings, as well as being their primary food. And although turf is attractive to football players, it isn’t to birds.

Having geese everywhere also raises the prominent and deepening concern of the bird flu. The bird flu has slowly but surely grown to be on the radar for Americans, and especially when they fill the green outside of students’ classrooms. With misinformation spreading everywhere, it can easily lead to panic within students. 

Updates on the bird flu have been coming out at least everyday. The concern of the bird flu is prominent, and only getting worse. With birds filling the campus, it raises concerns and spreads even higher. Bird droppings and coming in contact with dead or sick birds is the biggest way the flu can spread. 

Since there are so many bird droppings, and no matter how many times landscaping decides to clean the sidewalks, the odds of the disease spreading are even higher. Not only is this a risk to humans, but also other birds and animals. 

The flu spreading within animals works much faster than if it were bird to human. Marist University has been known to welcome service animals when needed. With dogs being a go-to service animal, going on walks with them could be a hazard. The spread of the flu being through bird droppings, domesticated or service dogs can be high at risk considering they go into close contact with poop no matter the animal. 

But the question still remains, why are they still here? Birds have been known to migrate south for the winter for food because staying in the north means their meal gets an unwanted topping of snow. They also can’t tolerate cold temperatures, despite their thick coat of feathers, as well as raising their baby geese by the water where they feed and escape predators. 

Some Canadian birds have actually adapted to the colder weather, therefore being comfortable enough to stay in New York. With the colder conditions, the food supply for the geese in the winter can sometimes be enough for them year-round.The Canada Goose jacket name must stem from somewhere! 

Geese follow landmarks, coastlines, mountain ranges as well as the sun and stars for guidance, they also have a physical compass that can detect the earth’s magnetic field. Prioritizing their health and babies they normally do fly south. These geese have been making our home their home and so far, are welcomed with open arms, for their sake, I hope Frankie the Fox doesn’t see them!