Stella The Goose Returns To Gig Harbor's Tides Tavern

GIG HARBOR, WA — It's that time of the year again!

Stella the Goose (and her loving partner Mac) have returned to their home at Tides Tavern on the Gig Harbor waterfront.

The geese (who the tavern says are named after the beers Mac and Jack, and Stella Artois) have been nesting in a barrel outside the tavern for several years now, and have become something of a community staple. The tavern has even festooned her barrel with some lovely plants, and set up a live cam for well-wishers who want to check in on the geese during their annual visit.

Normally, Stella and Mac return to nest between St. Patrick's Day and Mother's Day.

But Stella and Mac aren't alone this year: the lovebirds have brought seven eggs with them that are ready to hatch any day now.

Tides Tavern is hosting a contest to see who can guess when their eggs will hatch. Anyone who can guess the correct hatch date will win a $50 gift card. All applicants have to do is follow Tides Tavern on Facebook and leave a comment with their guess on the tavern's Facebook page here.

The bar says last year Stella had six goslings, and once they're hatched, they're usually out of the nest within a day.