Through the Fog......

There is something very beautiful about walking in the park on a rainy, foggy day.

 

Few people and the misty, wetness of the air gives everything a dream-like quality.

 

I felt as if in a dream yesterday circling the Reservoir -- especially noting all the new arrivals of migratory birds in the water.

 

Clusters of Northern Shovelers and all kinds of ducks from mallards to teals to wood ducks. Flocks of sea gulls flew around and landed in the Reservoir and even a couple of cormorants were observed lazily swimming and occasionally diving for fish.

 

What of course was conspicuously absent were any sightings of Canada geese.

 

And that was not only true of the Reservoir, but also the pond on the Upper West Side and Harlem Meer.

 

I had hoped that my not finding the five geese at Harlem Meer the other night was due to the darkness of the lake at night.

 

But, yesterday's viewing in the middle of the afternoon confirmed that the five geese seen over a period of four days were definitely gone.

 

Whether they were "hazed" out of the Meer or departed on their own accord is not clear.

 

It does however appear over the past three bizarre and unpredictable months that even if a few geese show up from time to time at the Meer, they don't stay beyond a few days -- perhaps because there are no other geese there.

 

The same has also been true of those few geese occasionally seen on the Reservoir.

 

Here one day, gone the next.

 

My concern about the near-absence of any geese in Central Park has now expanded to that of alarm.

 

Today, I called the New York City branch of The Audubon Society to discuss and express my dismay about the current situation of no geese in Central Park at a time thousands of other migratory birds are passing through.

 

"I have never seen anything like this," I told a gentleman named Glenn who spoke with me over the phone.

 

Glenn confirmed that the number of reported Canada geese sightings in Manhattan is down from what it was a few years ago, but he also said that most migratory geese don't usually arrive until December and that bird watchers don't always report Canada geese.

 

I assured him there were hardly any geese, migratory or resident,  to report for the past 7 months -- at least in Central Park.

 

Although obviously not pleased with all the USDA-conducted goose slaughters around New York City, the Audubon Society seems to be under the impression that, "People don't really care about Canada geese."

 

"Last year we sent a letter to our members requesting that they call 311 and write an email to protest the goose killings," Glenn told me.  "But, only seven people actually reported back to us that they did.  Many people actually dislike and complain about geese."

 

"I am aware that many people don't like geese," I replied.  "Then again there are people who hate dogs, cats or even kids.  It doesn't seem right that such people should be dictating policy. Nor, should it be assumed that goose haters represent what the majority feel.  They are simply the loudest.  Most people who enjoy seeing geese in the parks are totally unaware of what's been happening to the birds."

 

Glenn and I both agreed that in order for the geese to have any chance of being spared another USDA roundup and slaughter next year, an accurate survey and count of their actual numbers would have to be conducted.

 

Apparently, it costs a total of $40,000 for the Audubon Society to do such a survey and more than one would have to be done.  Goose counts would have to be conducted, starting in January and going into the spring.

 

The problem seems to be that The Audubon Society doesn't think there is public "demand" for this expenditure of money or attempt to save geese.

 

I got the unmistakable impression that Glenn thinks I am the only person in NYC that cares about geese as he basically said as much.

 

I am not sure where and why this "disconnect" seems to have occurred between the hundreds of New Yorkers who have showed up to protest goose slaughters, written letters and made calls to spare our geese and the Conservation organization that was specially formed to protect endangered birds. But, there seems to be a very real disconnect and an unawareness of what each is doing.

 

Glenn promised to send me some materials in the mail regarding exactly where Audubon stands on the Canada goose issue and I am looking forward to that.

 

But, it is somewhat disconcerting that the society is totally unaware of all the people in NYC who actually care about saving geese.

 

Apparently, Audubon only hears from the governmental and city agencies wanting to do the geese in or individuals who for whatever bizarre, twisted reason, "hate geese."

 

If all of that is true, then it is indeed, a very sad state of affairs for the future of Canada geese in NYC (and elsewhere).

 

Those who care about saving geese need to find their voices to speak up and actually communicate (especially to the main organization formed to protect birds) as those marching on Wall Street are doing now. 

 

Perhaps the problem is that most people have become complacent about geese after so many years of casually seeing them in the parks.   "Surely, geese cannot be danger anymore than pigeons are!" is the supposed thinking.

 

But, geese aren't like the ubiquitous pigeon who can exist almost anywhere. Geese are waterfowl who need certain conditions, watercourses and landscaping to survive.  And right now, they are either being harassed from desirable habitats all over the country or "culled."

 

What was true 3, 5 or 7 years ago is no longer true.

 

Once in motion, killing programs against animals can be very hard to stop -- until it is too late and the animals' numbers too few to actually preserve and save a species. Already migratory populations of Canada geese are down from what they once were.  And we are  recklessly killing resident geese by the tens of thousands with seemingly wanton abandon.

 

This may sound "crazy," but I truly believe that what ultimately happened to the African Black Rhino last week, could happen to Canada geese eventually

 

Sure, there were ultimate efforts to "save" African Black Rhinos from extinction, but they were too little, too late.  The decades of poaching were already in motion and could not  be stopped.

 

The same is projected for African elephants.

 

We are sometimes unable to see something while it is actually happening before our eyes.

 

That said, we still need to find voice.

 

Yes, it was mystifying and beautiful yesterday walking in the rain and the fog around Central Park.

 

But, even through the fog, it was clear there were no geese. 

 

Was it a "dream" -- or really a nightmare?  -- PCA

 

 

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