There’s a new bird in town.

Southfield High - home of the fighting Blue Jays - is also home to a nesting Canadian goose.

The fine feathered friend chose to make her nest outside one of the busiest places at the school - the cafeteria.“It did pick like the worst spot ever,” said junior Shatesha Carter.

To accommodate the goose, the exit doors from the cafeteria have been blocked off, reducing foot traffic near the nest.

But that’s apparently not good enough for the goose and her mate, who have been attacking students and teachers who come too close to the nest.

Junior Kristyn Journe was one of many students chased by a goose. “I was on my way to practice for Lip It Up with my friends, and I saw a goose, and I started to run as it came toward me.” In the process of running Journe dropped her cell phone on the ground and it broke. “It was opening its wings and started flying and running toward us.”

Mating season is generally from February til March; nesting season is March through May.

English teacher Karen Melton was also chased by a goose near the cafeteria. “A group of students and I were walking out of the door to the library toward A-House, and the goose started honking at other students who were messing with the goose. He must have sensed we were there, and he turned around and started running toward us, and we ran straight back into the building.”

By law, the goose nest can’t be removed. Animal Control can’t move the nest either. Canadian Geese are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Act of 1918. This Act makes it illegal to harm or injure a goose or damage or move its eggs and nest without a Federal permit. Violators can be subject to fines ranging from $5,000-15,000.

Jon Barth, manager of Buildings, Grounds and Security for the school district, apprised Southfield High staff of this law in a recent e-mail he sent after the goose nest was discovered.

Janel Edwards, who runs the school’s book depository, posted signs on the blocked doors informing students of goose nesting practices. Geese are known to be very protective, according to Edwards. Just like parents, they are careful about how close they let people get around their babies nesting.

According to the Web site geesepeace.org, Canadian geese average five goslings. They breed at approximately three years old, and live to be 20.