B737-900
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Ground Event / Encounter Person / Animal / Bird
Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff; Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Maintenance Action
Environment - Non Weather Related
We received clearance for takeoff and proceeded down the runway after setting the power.  After setting the power I looked out in front of the aircraft.  While we rolled down the runway I noticed something in the center of the runway on the center-strip and watched as we closed in on the object.  It was a goose; and it began to run down the centerline of the runway and I interpreted trying to reach its V1 and Vr speed in a hurry.  I called out; 'Goose;' and the First Officer and I watched as it reached its maneuver speed and banked hard [left] just in front of our aircraft.  I watched as it was low in a left turn and going down the left side of our flight deck.  I directed my attention to the engine indications for engine 1 and noticed no fluctuations but did notice about a 50 degree difference between engine 1 and 2.  We didn't hear or feel any impact; but we did have on our headsets.  We were less than 100 knots so I elected to abort.  I did get a faint odor in the air conditioning system and suspected maybe we took the goose in the fan and not the engine itself.  I had struck a pelican at Vr years ago and while engine indications were all within parameters; except vibration; we had no other indications of a bird ingestion.  It destroyed 1/4 of the fan; blades were no longer there; so with this experience and everything else; I elected to abort and have Maintenance inspect aircraft.  We returned to the gate and we had noticed a faint odor on the abort which when I stepped off the flight deck was confirmed by a passenger in first class in seat 1C.  Maintenance and Airport Operations found no indications of ingestion or remains so we all felt the aircraft was safe to continue.  That was one lucky goose which I presume won't be hanging around [this airport] anymore.
B737 Captain reports rejecting a takeoff due to the possibility a goose was struck and returning to the gate. No damage was found and the flight departs.