Harlem Meer, Sunday, May 20, 2012:
Waterfowl count: Canada geese: None. Adult Mallards 10. Ducklings: 7 Domestic ducks: 2.
There were more fisher people yesterday at Harlem Meer than waterfowl.
I found Brad and Wiggly (domestic ducks) inside fenced and safe area near Dana Center. I tossed small handful of sunflower seeds to the two ducks and took photos (while they're still here and alive).
A group of about six people (most of them young) were fishing nearby. One of them, a teenage girl about 13 came over to me. "You ain't supposed to feed birds!" she snarled.
Suddenly angry, I shot back, "Am I bothering you? Are these two ducks bothering you? There are lots of things at this lake that bother ME, but I am not in anyone's face. And, if you know what's good for you, you will get the hell out of mine. -- Go call a cop. See what I care."
Looking surprised, the young girl moved away without saying anything more.
I stayed a while longer and continued with what I was doing.
Sure, there are signs not to feed wildlife. But, the fact is, there is barely any wildlife to feed at Harlem Meer anymore.
Later, walking to the east side ot the Meer, I encountered a young mother with a little girl about 7-years-old feeding some bread to a pair of mallards. "Have you seen the duck family today?" I asked. "There is a pair of parent ducks with babies here."
"I think they may be on the other side." the young woman answered. "But, no, we haven't seen them yet."
"Your little girl is lovely with those long, black curls. And she seems so sweet and gentle with the animals."
"Thank you. Marina and I love to come here to feed the ducks." the woman replied.
"Well, don't go by the Dana Center." I warned. "Some little teenage snip will yell at you."
"Oh yes! She yelled at us too! That is why we came here."
"Don't let creeps like that intimidate you. Bullies in the making. I gave her a dose of her own medicine."
The woman smiled.
Just then her little girl came up to me and asked if she could pet and walk my dogs a little.
"Sure you can! Just don't run with them. My dogs are old." I smiled.
The little girl loved my dogs and they her.
Her mother took out her cell phone to take a picture of her daughter with my dogs.
"Here, let me take a photo of you with your daughter and the dogs!" I offered.
"Oh, that would be wonderful! Thank you!" the young mother replied handing me her cell phone.
Remembering back to when my own daughter was little, we took many pictures of each other, but rarely got any of us together.
It was a very nice moment. -- And it was lovely to meet such a gentle, happy child and mother -- especially after the ugly encounter earlier.
Later, looking for the mallard family, I walked around the entire lake.
But, I found something very strange.
A drake standing on a small rock and two ducklings swimming in the water close to him.
Where's the mama? I wondered.
There was no sign of a female mallard anywhere nearby.
I realize that many ducklings don't survive. But, mother mallards?
I tried to figure that maybe mama took a break somewhere and left "daddy" in charge. And yet, the drake did not seem particularly interested in the ducklings. I got the impression they were merely staying close to him for safety.
Walking on, I finally found the familiar duck family. Only this time they seemed to have two extra ducklings. There were five in all.
Strange things at Harlem Meer yesterday.
Returning back to the first duck "family." it was still the same scene. No mother duck and the two babies staying close to the drake who was still standing indifferently on rock.
Were these orphan ducklings?
If so, I could only hope they find the other mallard family and are accepted. Not sure the drake is their "father" or has any particular interest in protecting them.
Walking home from the Meer yesterday, I felt somewhat more depressed than when heading over there. No Canada geese seen anywhere on the north side of Central Park, the obnoxious fisher girl, apparently orphaned (or at least motherless) ducklings and the few ducks huddled in the marshes or hiding out in the few protected areas. Indeed, the only pleasant experience of the day was the young mother and her beautiful little girl.
Bizarre stuff at Harlem Meer yesterday.
But, if I was somewhat blue coming back from Harlem Meer, it was nothing compared to the near utter despair when leaving my home to escape to Central Park. -- Despair yesterday afternoon when going through the latest USDA- APHIS Wildlife Damage Report: USDA - APHIS - Regulations and Assessments - Wildlife Damage Management
I jotted down some notes and will be recording them throughout blog entries over the next couple of weeks. What follows are the few from yesterday:
Noteworthy Bird/Aircraft collisions:
1975 - JFK airport. DC10. Herring gulls ingested into engines. Engine exploded, aircraft destroyed. No Fatalities.
1995 -- Air France Concorde Jet. Two Canada geese. Damage to plane. No fatalities. Sued Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ). Settled out of court for five million dollars.
2009. - United Airways (2-engine) Airbus (flight 1549) collides with migratory Canada geese, ditches in Hudson river. Plane destroyed. No fatalities.
From 1994 - 2009 -- 1,759 bird strikes at JFK airport involving 98 bird species.
"Alternative 6 -- Increase Intergrated Bird Hazard Management"
"This alternative would result in substantial reduction in the number of Canada geese and other waterfowl within 7 mile radius of JFK airport."
"It is possible that all birds may be removed from specific sites for periods of time."
"In most situations, birds would be allowed to remain as long as numbers remain low. (Less than 10 birds within 5 miles of airport. Less than 20 birds within 7 miles.)"
"The non-native black tailed Jackrabbit population might be substantially reduced or eliminated by the proposal action."
"Alternative 6 has been selected as the proposed action."
General Information on Bird Strike Hazards to Aircraft
"Reasons for the increasing risk of wildlife strikes include:
* Increased air traffic.
* Shifts from 3 to 4-engine aircraft to more efficient and quieter 2-engine aircraft...."
In 1965, 90% of planes had 3 or more engines. In 1998 only 30% and by 2005 only 10% of 8,200 aircraft had 3 or 4 engines.
"Lighter, faster, quieter"
"Studies indicate that birds are less able to detect and avoid quieter, modern jets with Turbofan engines. Additionally, reducing the number of engines increases risk that multiple bird strikes can affect all engines and result in life-threatening situation such as flight 1549 in which both engines were damaged."
"A new trend in airline industry is use of Very Light Jets (VLJ's) aka microjets mostly providing for air taxi service."
"These new jets will be ever more difficult for birds to detect and avoid than current aircraft." (Emphasis supplied.)
"Airbus 320 most involved in bird strikes -- 22%." (Flight 1549 was Airbus 320)
"US Commercial aircraft increased from approximately 18 million aircraft movements per year in 1980 to over 26 million in 2009 and are projected to increase to about 37 million by 2030."
"A high percentage of bird strikes occur during peak migration periods, but dangerous situations can develop during any season."
"36 of approximately 650 North American bird species have body mass of more than 4 lbs."
Canada Geese
"The original pre-Colonial population was primarily the subspecies, "Branta Canadensis" but birds were extirpated from state. Current population introduced in early part of 20th century by state agencies using game farm stock... and also hunt clubs."
"NYSDEC has established a General Depredation Order for the take of Canada geese between April 1 and Sept 15 and any number of goose eggs....with permits."
Just some of the notes from yesterday and none of it looking good for Canada geese, all types of gulls, Cormorants, Mute Swans and a variety of other birds within 5 to 7 miles of our airports.
The report talks about birds and other animals like they were inanimate objects that just get in the way of faster, quieter planes running on fewer engines. (All of these things increase the likelihood of bird strikes because birds cannot detect or avoid fast enough.) The mention of the "new trend" for use of "Very Light Jets" (VLJs) is also very troubling. ("These new jets will be ever more difficult for birds to detect and avoid than current aircraft.")
Question: If we have the technology to build faster, quieter jets on fewer engines that birds have difficulty escaping, should there not also be obligation to develop technology to better warn wildlife of oncoming danger? -- This for human and wildlife safety? When one thinks about it, we have technology to build passenger cars that could go 300 MPH, but we don't put these on the market, because they would jeopardize the safety of millions of people -- even though drivers could get to where they want in less time.
Shouldn't responsibility coincide with technological development?
Or, is the attitude to simply kill any and all birds that can't detect or get out of way of these advanced jets fast enough?
Very dark days ahead for the wildlife of New York City -- or, to quote a line from an old Judy Collins song, "Don't bother, they're here." -- PCA
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