"Moods" and Predictability

(Photos:  Buster trying to regain dignity last night.  Buster's charges quickly snacking with the ducks.)

 

Still apparently brooding and humiliated by Tuesday night's opportunistic "butt shot" from Piggly, (one of the three barnyard ducks) Buster was in a seemingly "foul" mood last night.

 

Buster made it clear to goose and duck alike, he was not taking any grief or "lucky shots" from anyone.  Unfortunately, Buster's flock mates served as the brunt for most of the humiliated gander's frustrations.  Their feathers got a work over last night and more than one had to take to the water in order to temporarily flee Busters' posturings and temper.

 

Then again, Buster's gaggle is quite used to this.

 

If Buster is actually father and mate to the other geese in his flock, he is quite the disciplinarian and task master. 

 

Nevertheless, the gaggle has successfully survived in New York City during a time thousands of geese have otherwise been rounded up and killed by the USDA. --  Perhaps that is why the other five geese in Buster's gaggle don't challenge or rebel.

 

They know they have a good thing despite "appearances" to us unknowing humans.

 

Despite Buster's clear objections to any of his flock members taking treats from my hand, he strangely has no problem we me petting his charges.  I have done this routinely with neither Buster nor petted goose showing any fear or resistance. And yet, should I offer hand treat to any of Buster's gaggle, they immediately back off -- or Buster rudely admonishes them!

 

Its an interesting family dynamic.   And one that is so different from other goose families I have known -- particularly the "Turtle Pond goose family" who over the past year has become the "Boat Lake goose family." 

 

In that goose family, "Papa" goose is a very strong, but benevolent and generous leader.

 

Unlike Buster, Papa would routinely hang back while his mate and goslings ate from my hand.  Though quite harsh and corrective with his youngsters during nesting season, the rest of the year, Papa was protective, permissive and generous with them.

 

I guess it shows that somewhat like human families, not all goose families are the same.

 

Much depends upon the patriarchal leaders.

 

Speaking of the Boat Lake goose family, its been a while since I checked out the area and saw them.

 

I am considering doing that over the next day or two.

 

But, that would not solely be for nostalgia purposes, but also to try and determine where the other geese who were at Harlem Meer over the past two months might have gone to?

 

I am guessing that the migratory geese already embarked on their journeys north due to the warmer than normal winter.

 

But, what about the other two to three "resident" goose families who, like Buster, routinely came to me for treats each night?   (These include Daffy and his family.)

 

While the migratory geese left the Meer about a week ago, the geese who I presumed to be "resident" NYC geese left a couple of days ago.

 

But, I have no idea where they might have gone.

 

Are resident geese already returning to breeding areas?   Or, are they merely "pond hopping" during the reasonably mild weather?

 

Of course the other possibility is that the other resident goose families got fed up with Buster's bullying and belligerent behavior.   "Hey, the weather's nice now. We don't have to stay here and put up with this nonsense!  Off to greener pastures elsewhere!"

 

I don't know the answers to these questions.  But, it might be good to check out some of the other watercourses of Central Park -- if nothing else than to hopefully say "hi" once again to Mama, Papa and their three goslings from 2010.

 

Nevertheless, there is one thing I do know -- not just from now, but times past as well.

 

That is, that people feeding geese have absolutely NO impact whatsoever on whether geese elect to stay in an area or move on!

 

Were that true, the other few goose families would still be at Harlem Meer.

 

Moreover, I am quite certain that despite my offer of delectable treats each night to Buster and his gaggle, when their biological clock says its time to "go" they too will leave the Meer.

 

The geese don't raise their goslings at Harlem Meer.

 

Exactly where most of the "resident" Central Park geese go in the summertime, I don't know for sure.

 

I just know that last summer, there were approximately 20 geese in all of Central Park.

 

Was it possible Buster and his family were among them?

 

Only if Buster and crew are actually the goose family from the Reservoir or the South Pond near 59th Street.

 

I never did, after all, get to "know" the south pond goose family very well.

 

Ah, the mysteries carry on!

 

Hopefully, to discover a little more later this week and through the next few months. 

 

But, as said many times, "The more things appear to be the same, the more they change."

 

Nothing with nature is absolutely predictable -- including Buster's "mood" each night.

 

Hopefully, by now, Buster has gotten over his humiliation from a "barnyard" duck on Tuesday night. -- PCA

 

 

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