Kitchener-Waterloo

Goslings, mother goose leave nest after brief stint on University of Waterloo goose cam

A livestream featuring a goose and its goslings on the roof of a building at the University of Waterloo has now ended as the geese have moved on.

Livestream of goose and goslings has been viewed more than 9,000 times

The goslings surround the mother goose on the University of Waterloo goose cam. (Jack Truong)

A mother goose and her goslings that have been the stars of a livestream goose cam while they nested on a roof at the University of Waterloo have left the building.

The geese left the nest early Wednesday, Jack Truong said.

Truong, an IT specialist in the university's engineering computer department, set up a livestream so people could check out the goose and its goslings.

Earlier this week, six goslings hatched from eggs laid by a mother goose that has been nesting on the roof of a building on campus.

People can still watch the YouTube livestream backup to check out the mother goose and her babies.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Truong said the livestream has been viewed more than 9,000 times and number of minutes watched was just under 80,000.

Some of those watching were a local kindergarten class.

"They're learning about what hatches from eggs and how long they take to hatch. They were watching the stream just to see an actual hatching," he said.

"I did not think it could be used as a teaching tool, but apparently it was."

Geese common on campus

Truong said they did not give the goose a nickname.

"It's just 'The Goose' in our office. I think that name kind of stuck," he said. "I don't think we want to get too attached." 

Geese are a common sight on campus and have been known to be aggressive. But Truong said people still seem interested with the mother goose starting a nest near their window last month. The goose even remained on her nest during a snowstorm earlier this month. The camera was set up because people in the office regularly came to the window to look at the goose and see its progress.

The goslings have hatched on the University of Waterloo's goose cam. (Jack Truong)

He initially had a web chat along with the livestream, but he took it down after some people started making inappropriate comments.

He said some people also questioned the purpose of the camera, too.

"A few of them are wondering why is this even on the internet? But there are many other things on the internet that you can find that is more questionable than a goose cam," he said.