(Photos: 1--"Brad, Piggly and Wiggly, [The Three Duckateers], in better days of winter. 2-- Brad and Wiggly yesterday...."And then there were two." 3-- Lone goose currently at Harlem Meer. Wing injury suspected.)
When leaving Harlem Meer last Friday afternoon, a bad feeling of worry and dread came inexplicably over me.
But, I could not be sure if the "bad feeling" was attributed to a general sense of pessimism regarding recent news events (announcing further NYC goose slaughters this summer) or something else.
The specific situation at the Meer this past Friday was both, amusing in some respects and troubling in others.
The amusing part was watching how Brad, Piggly and Wiggly (the three domestic ducks) had taken over the north side of Harlem Meer -- the two "bully boys" spending the better part of their days constantly chasing mallards away. (It looked exhausting)
For her part, Wiggly never bothered other ducks and merely tagged along with the two boys, like some sort of personal cheerleader.
It was interesting over these many months to observe the particularly close bonding and working, cooperative relationship that developed between Brad and Piggly. The two Rouen ducks constantly chatted with each other, apparently discussing daily "strategies" for staking out and defending their part of the Meer.
Brad indeed, "trained" his protege well.
While Brad usually took on the job of chasing mallards away on the lake, Piggly, over time, became every bit as vigilant and feisty.
However, last Friday, there was a pair of mallards in the area that seemed to get a kick out of annoying and spurring on the two domestic, male ducks. One female mallard seemingly loved to "tease" Brad and Piggly, knowing full well that when the flightless ducks charged at her, she could easily fly away -- and return.
It almost seemed like some kind of crazy "duck game" that was hilarious to watch.
But, there were also troublesome observances last Friday at the Meer.
For one matter, there were hardly any mallards or geese at all.
While there were two new mallard families (drake and female mallard with four ducklings and a solitary mama mallard with seven ducklings), the number of other mallards was less than ten.
Moreover, there was only one Canada goose, whereas last week, there were six.
Since the lone Canada goose appeared to be a female, one had to speculate that for some reason she was unable to fly out from the Meer with her family. (Wing damage or injury?)
Part of me suspected that goose harassment was once again occurring at Harlem Meer.
If true, then it is bewildering considering the very low numbers of geese and mallards in Central Park these days.
The other troubling observance on Friday were some unruly adolescent boys who seemed to take special delight in stomping feet, chasing and harassing Brad, Piggly and Wiggly when the three ducks briefly ventured on to the edge of lake.
"Excuse me, what are you doing?" I asked, annoyed at the bully-like behavior. "The ducks are not in your space. You are in theirs. If you cannot appreciate wildlife, then you should move away from here."
The boys looked at me, but did not reply. But, nor did they leave.
While I sat on the steps near the Dana Center a long time hoping the kids would eventually leave, they didn't.
But, I ultimately had to walk away as the sun was hot and my two dogs were starting to pant and get uncomfortable in the heat.
Perhaps it was ultimately that which led to the "bad feeling" when finally exiting the Meer on Friday -- the uncertainty with what might occur between the kids still at the Meer and three vulnerable ducks.
But, then I figured I was "over-worrying" as I often do. These ducks after all, are tough and wary. They have survived the worst of winters and are very familiar with less than human kindness at Harlem Meer.
Yet, no matter how I tried to reason my way out of the sense of disquiet, it was still there, gnawing at some sense of "alert" deep down.
While over the winter, I went to Harlem Meer every night to monitor and feed the three domestic ducks, since spring arrived with its bountiful food sources, this has not been necessary.
I have also wanted to keep tabs on Mama and Papa goose at the Boat Lake this spring and have alternated between going there and to the Meer.
I thus returned to Harlem Meer yesterday (Sunday).
The first thing noticed was that the lone goose was still in the same grassy area on the east side of the lake. That nearly confirms what was first speculated on Friday. That there is something apparently wrong with her wings (though not obviously visible) and she cannot fly.
But, even more disturbing than a possibly injured and lone goose was that Piggly was no where to be seen yesterday.
At first, I could not believe it.
He's got to be here, somewhere! Perhaps he is chasing away a mallard on the lake.
But, I walked all around the Meer yesterday and Piggly was simply gone. Completely vanished as has occurred so many times in the past to other flightless, domestic ducks abandoned in Harlem Meer at various times and seemingly always taken out by bad people in the spring or summer.
Crap, its happened again!
Brad and Wiggly were together on the lake and seemingly a bit more "guarded" than usual. They barely acknowledged me, but for a few seconds and than cautiously swam away.
Although Brad and Wiggly are fairly tight, there is not the communication bond between them that existed between Brad and Piggly, nor the same type of "working relationship."
Both ducks were strongly attached to Piggly.
By this time, very emotional and furious over the disappearance of Piggly, I walked into the Dana Discovery Center (located right near the usual location of the ducks) and confronted an older woman working behind the desk.
"Do you know what happened to one of the domestic ducks that was here? There were three of them and now there are only two."
I was surprised to find my voice shaking.
"No, we don't know anything." the woman replied, indifferntly. "Those are wild, hybrid ducks. They flew in here and presumably can fly out."
"This duck did not fly out -- nor in! These are DOMESTIC ducks that are incapable of flight except for a couple of feet off the ground! They have been abandoned here by people over the years. It is obvious that someone did something to this duck!"
"Well, we don't know anything." was the woman's cool reply.
But, not wanting to let her off the hook so easily, I questioned other things.
"Is harassment being used on the geese again? There is only ONE lone goose here and hardly any mallards!"
"No,....no." the woman stammered. "We haven't...used any harassment. I don't believe so."
"Well, it sure is suspect." I shot back. "There seems to be no respect or care for the wildlife here at Harlem Meer. The kids are fishing in the off limit areas, some of them fishing on rocks in the lake. WHO is going to rescue them if they fall into the water?!"
"That is the parents responsibility." the woman replied as if not giving a damn about anything --even kids potentially drowning mere feet from where she was working.
"No, it is the park's job to enforce the RULES."
Convinced at this point, I was dealing with an unfeeling, uncaring moron, I stormed out of the Dana Center, completely and utterly frustrated.
I could not believe people were being paid by Central Park Conservancy to apparently not know anything -- and care even less -- about rule-breaking occurrences in the immediate area and the domestic animals living right beneath their noses. And yet, they are supposed to be "knowledgeable" about the park and are hired to be information resources!
Walking home and thinking about the apparently injured goose still at the Meer and the disappearance of Piggly, it was impossible to enjoy the otherwise, beautiful and perfect spring day.
I remembered when first seeing Piggly at the Meer last fall and how worried I was for him. Piggly was a frightened, emaciated and extremely weak duck who I did not believe would survive more than a few weeks, let alone the entire winter, into the spring.
But, I watched Piggly bravely fight for scraps for food and ward off attacks from mallards. I watched Piggly gradually and later forming bond with Brad and Wiggly ("The Three Duckateers"). And over the months, I watched Piggly totally bloom into a healthy, robust and confident duck, who together with Brad and Wiggly "ruled" the Meer.
Strange how it is the "easy", warm and bountiful months of the spring and summer, (when the human activities increase in the park) that eventually and always, does these birds in.
They can survive blizzards, rain storms, icy lakes, freezing temperatures and scant food supplies in winter -- but what they ultimately cannot survive is human cruelty.
Sometimes, I feel so ashamed for my own species.
We may claim to be smarter and "better" than all other animals on the planet.
But, from personal observances that just seems to be wishful thinking and self-delusion.
For surely there is no other species on earth, crueler than we.
There seems little, if any way, to protect and defend, both the geese and even the domestic, flightless ducks from ultimate human harm. -- PCA
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