Earlier today, we reported on ducklings that were in danger of being sucked into the Christian Science Center reflecting pool’s filters. When we last left a crowd of maintenance workers and Animal Rescue League of Boston employees, they were still trying to corral the understandably upset mother duck.

We’re happy to report everything is fine.

(more…)

One of the perks of working by the Christian Science Center reflecting pool (aside from watching random people take the plunge) is watching the ducks who call the pond home. All spring, we’ve seen a female duck and two male ducks hanging around the pool, begging tourists for snacks and happily paddling around.

We left the office for lunch today and saw two Animal Rescue League of Boston trucks parked outside, and two Rescue League employees trying to corral our beloved ducks. Turns out, the female was a mother, and she and her nine ducklings were being evicted from the pool.

(more…)

Back in April, Boston Daily had the brilliant idea (if we do say so ourself — and we do) to name the Fenway Hawk.

But it seems the Lowell Spinners had already teamed up with the Inside Track to have their own contest. And even though they beat us to the punch (unbeknown to us), they half-assed their effort.

Don’t worry, though. Our contest is still on-going.

(more…)

One year for Christmas, the rest of the family decided to buy my nature-loving grandparents a beehive. For a few summers, they watched the bees buzz happily in and out of the white box in the back corner of the yard. But eventually even my industrious grandparents found beekeeping wasn’t worth the hassle and unloaded the equipment on someone else.

If they can’t do it, I doubt a bunch of inexperienced suburbanites with smokers can keep a hive going.

(more…)

A couple of years ago, I happily signed a lease for a studio apartment in the Back Bay. Sure, it was in a basement, but I could walk to work and to Newbury Street. After years of commuting in from Brookline and Brighton, I’d made it into the city.

Then the rats came.

(more…)

As some readers may remember, John Gonzalez nearly died after a vicious bird attack back in January. We had our fun with the terrified city-dweller, but figured it was a rare occurrence.

But no. The birds have struck again. This time, they’ve used Fenway Park as their hunting ground.

(more…)

As a kid, a deer sighting was always an unexpected treat. Even though I grew up in a rural town, the animals were notoriously skittish around people. But now when I go home, I spy deer all the time. Whether I’m nearly hitting them with my car or watching them graze in a field, they don’t seem particularly bothered by humans anymore.

Maybe it’s because my neighbors are disobeying wildlife officials and feeding them.

(more…)

Our exposure to wildlife in the city is mercifully infrequent. There are the grossly obese squirrels on the Common, the occasional dog, and of course, killer falcons.

Until recently, Kendall Square had Mr. Gobbles. But the beloved turkey has been forced to fly the coop.

(more…)

I almost died today. It’s true.

I was on my way back from the gym — where I got totally swole, incidentally — when two other staffers and I happened upon an incredible scene unfolding on Mass. Ave., near Boston Daily HQ.

There, in the middle of the street, was a falcon. (I think it was a falcon. Who am I, Jack Hanna?) From a distance, the bird looked as big as a small child, or maybe as small as a big child. Anyway, it was large, and it was fiercely protecting some kind of unidentified prey in its talons.

Traffic in both directions snarled to a halt, and motorists beeped and screamed in an attempt to scare the bird out of the street. Didn’t work. Our fine feathered friend just stared back defiantly.

Meanwhile, pedestrians gathered and began taking pictures. It seemed like a good idea, and I decided to join them.

Turned out to be another of my many mistakes.

(more…)