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Every year, a pair of mallard ducks visits @NatGeo to lay eggs and hang out in our courtyard fountain. @natashaldaly wrote about how they often lay eggs too early. bit.ly/2OWb3Jy 
It's a constant source of stress for us. If/when the chicks do hatch, the mama marches them down K Street across busy streets. bit.ly/2P1pKLI
Thank goodness for the people @DCCityWildlife, who always keep an eye out! Last year, mama duck hurt her leg, and they nursed her back to heatlh. bit.ly/2OYIwmR
This year, sadly, they did lay eggs too early, and they didn't hatch. But we have another visitor. A pair of Canada geese have taken up residence on our third floor! @nickasconi, who sits right next to them, got this pic:
@nickasconi The geese are super popular with our visitors, as @CallieBroaddus captured. (Click to enlarge gif!) Goslings are due ~April 24.
The livestream of our mother goose is live! bit.ly/2v2Q7HO
Update: We've now closed off part of the @natgeo courtyard to protect the geese...and to protect museum visitors from the geese.
@NatGeo Kicked out of the courtyard by the geese, Mrs. Duck is now nesting in a flower box on a busy sidewalk.
Hatching is imminent! Also, @natashaldaly wrote a story about our staff’s goose obsession. Story and live stream here. nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/0…
No goslings from Mother Goose yet. On the duck front, however, a @natgeo staffer added a sign to help Mrs. Duck nest safely.
“Snacks bring rats.” Rats will steal duck eggs and have been known to attack ducklings. Also, did you know you shouldn’t feed ducks bread? popsci.com/feeding-ducks-…
The goslings have hatched! All six were born on Saturday. They're still up on the ledge, and @DCCityWildlife is standing by if they need help getting down. Live stream here: bit.ly/2PCZNST
Canada geese usually make an nest on the ground, but their goslings are capable of falling a couple stories safely. They've got plenty of food on the third-floor ledge, but they'll need to come down for water soon.
For now, Mama Goose is keeping them away from the ledge, and Papa Goose scared off a crow. Crows predate on ducklings, but goose parents are much bigger and more aggressive thank ducks, so it's less of a risk for goslings.
The goslings needed down, but they weren’t about to jump. First we tried a bucket - the goslings could be lowered down the side, so Mom and Dad wouldn’t lose site of them. No go, though.
So the only option was to lead the WHOLE FAMILY through the third floor
The whole staff helped keep them on track.
...then we got on the elevator. Those are the babies in the carrier.
...and through the turnstiles
...across the lobby...
...and out the front door...
And into the fountain!
They’ll probably spend the night in our courtyard then make the march almost a mile through busy traffic down to Constitution Gardens on the National Mall. @DCCityWildlife is standing by to act as escorts and crossing guards!
The morning goose update:
A few hours later, @DCCityWildlife came to escort them to Constitution Gardens, a mile away. They were going to end up making the walk one way or another, so it was better to nudge them along, because it’s a dangerous walk by themselves
So first they had to be rounded up...
And then the parents would follow...
.@DCCityWildlife walked them down to a wide open area with lots of water, where they’d be much happier
And they lived happily ever after! Probably.
