(Photos: 1-- Two of the grown goslings of Mama and Papa briefly enjoying grass at Great Lawn the other day and posing for numerous photos. 2-- Mama and Papa yesterday at Boat Lake in Central Park.)
In 1968 there was much political talk about the "Silent Majority" in this country.
The Silent Majority represented estimated percentage of those Americans not actively involved in political causes of the day or marching in streets. Just ordinary people routinely going through their lives seeking and appreciating relative peace and balance. People generally not seeking to "get involved" in anything of political or cause nature.
I believe the same is true today as it was back then. Despite thousands of OWS people marching in streets protesting a multitude of problems and despite those "bitching" about geese and attempting to blame the animals for every perceivable catastrophe from "feathers on the ground" to potential airline fatalities, the fact is most people like to live in relative peace and don't seek active involvement in social or political change.
I also believe that the silent majority in this country actually like and appreciate having geese and other wildlife in their local parks.
Unfortunately, these people don't usually make news headlines -- as one 83-year-old woman was able to garner front page news yesterday from the Columbus Dispatch with her hatred for geese and desire to "get rid of them:"
It is strange how the article casually mentions all the people "feeding" geese in the area. But, none of those people were interviewed. Apparently, the geese lovers are deemed just as lowly as the animals they are feeding. -- Not worth interviewing.
But yes, that is usually the way. "The squeaky wheel gets the oil." Those who complain and whine loudly enough eventually attract government attention and media coverage, as well as they are usually the ones posting comments to said articles.
It is noteworthy to mention that out of the potentially thousand or more park goers I have seen over the years taking photographs of geese, cooing to them or even feeding geese, I have only encountered one couple hostile to the geese. -- Two people out of more than a thousand.
Pointing to the grazing goose family at Turtle Pond two years ago, the woman of the older couple snarled, "I don't know why the park doesn't get rid of those pesky geese!"
As might be expected, this one miserable, disgruntled and cranky woman was interviewed by a young journalist doing a "story" at the time for her university.
"The squeaky wheel got the oil."
Over the past few days at Central Park, it has been a different story.
A couple of days ago, two of the now grown goslings of Mama and Papa goose were briefly grazing at the Great Lawn.
Recognizing me, the two adventurous and trusting geese wandered over in my direction.
Numerous people, with smiles on faces, stopped in their tracks to take photos of the accommodating and seemingly "posing" geese. This is something I have personally witnessed many hundreds of times over the years. -- People stopping to admire and take photos of geese.
But, it isn't "newsworthy."
Seemingly, only those who hate geese and want every one destroyed (like Senator Gillibrand or the old woman) make the news -- in Gillibrand's case, both national and local news.
Yesterday, while visiting with my two favorite geese, Mama and Papa at the Boat Lake, a young woman with a small Yorkie dog approached me.
"I watched as the geese swam across the lake to come up to you. Do they know you?" she asked curiously.
"Oh, yes!" I laughed. "I know these geese for more than two years. They raised a family of goslings at Turtle Pond in 2010. Their babies are adults now of course, but they still fly around here."
"Oh, that is fascinating. They seem so sweet!"
The young woman and I further discussed geese and other wildlife in the park for a few minutes. Realizing she was a person with a heart for geese, I then informed her of the current campaign to round up and kill geese all around New York City.
"Would you please take one of these fliers?" I asked, while offering the woman a Goosewatch leaflet. ((27) GooseWatch NYC ) "The USDA will begin conducting goose roundups in parks next month. We are asking that people be on the look-out and immediately report any roundup sightings...."
The woman suddenly burst into tears.
"Oh, I can't believe this! It is so horrible!" she stammered through streaming tears. Who could do such cruelty to such sweet birds? I had NO idea!"
Trying then to console the young, professional woman, I offered that it is "unlikely that the USDA will come after these two old geese at the Boat Lake...." Nevertheless, we still had to be vigilant.
The woman thanked me for the information and took the flier. "I will make some calls," she promised, while walking away. "This is completely unacceptable, regardless of the excuse and justification for it!"
What amazes me most in similar encounters like this one is exactly how many people in New York City, are completely unaware of the goose slaughters that have been occurring in our city for the last decade. People who are otherwise, educated, aware and obviously care deeply about animals.
I truly believe these people represent the "Silent Majority" of our city.
But, if that be the case, the geese are literally dying for that unawareness and silence.
Following my visit with Mama and Papa yesterday, I returned to the small dock at Turtle Pond where I encountered other goose and wildlife lovers. More uplifting conversation and a couple of more fliers given out.
Most pleasing of all however, are the two new signs posted on the dock: "This dock for wildlife observation. No Fishing allowed."
And while it may have been an incident of one fisherman hooking another while fishing off the dock that spurred the new signs, the "For wildlife observation" sentence tells me that we few "squeaking wheels" that protested the fishing in the location were ultimately responsible for those words and partially responsible for the signs being posted at all.
It is not "fun" to protest. It is not pleasant. None of us want to be a "miserable, disgruntled crank."
But, sometimes opening one's mouth and protesting is necessary.
None of the progressive laws and necessary social reforms of the past 50 years would have been achieved without social protest.
And if we hope to ultimately save any geese in New York City -- including Mama and Papa at Central Park and their now grown babies, then that Silent Majority is going to have to find a way to be "silent" no more.
A few of us around the city willing to open our mouths and protest is simply not enough to stem the wheels of destruction already well in motion. -- PCA
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