(Photos: 1-- New goose family at Boat Lake greeting human admirer. 2--Brad and Wiggly last night at Harlem Meer. 3-- One of several mallard families at Harlem Meer. Mama and half grown ducklings.)
The time of "gathering" for the summer molt seems already to be in motion.
Over the past few days, I have noted a few geese hanging with Mama and Papa at the Boat Lake. During this last holiday weekend, a third goose was observed with Mama and Papa when they "celebrated" Memorial Day near the ever romantic Bow Bridge, (They stayed there through the weekend). Now that Mama and Papa have returned to their home base, a few other geese joined them on the rock last night.
I am guessing the new geese to be their grown goslings from 2010 as its doubtful Papa would welcome non-related geese directly on Mama and Papa's home turf.
Meanwhile, the new family of geese are fast gaining human admirers and soaking in the added attention -- and treats.
Nevertheless, when I show up with my two dogs, the "Daddy" of this goose family immediately starts to hiss and goes into a tizzy.
One would think he would be used to my dogs by now (as Papa learned to recognize and trust my dogs after the first visit in 2010).
That is, unless......
I am beginning to wonder if the new Daddy gander is actually "Bozo" formerly of Harlem Meer and his "wife" Bonnie?
"Bozo and Bonnie" were a pair of geese I saw frequently at Harlem Meer last spring. Bozo was immediately recognizable by his extreme dislike and distrust for any and all dogs, including mine. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7cHxz8MwII
While it is of course impossible to know if the gander filmed last year hissing at my dogs is the same "Daddy"goose hissing at them now, it is interesting to note I have not seen Bozo and Bonnie at the Meer this spring.
Is that because they had taken up residence and nesting at the Boat Lake?
Certainly, the behavior of "Daddy" gander is identical to Bozo of last year, as is the behavior of his female mate, who, while very protective of her young, does not appear that upset with my dogs.
Both of these goose parents are much more regimented and controlling than Mama and Papa ever were. They run an extremely tight ship, whereas Mama and Papa were generally more relaxed goose parents.
I actually believe the new parents are Bozo and Bonnie.
And if that be the case, Bozo will never accept my dogs as Mama and Papa did long ago.
Bozo must have had a very bad encounter with a dog probably early in life and it has never left him. In his mind no dog is to be trusted. -- Ever.
Jumping from the Boat Lake in Central Park to Harlem Meer, many of the former resident mallards are returning to the Meer, presumably to "gather" for their molt.
Brad, (the domestic Rouen duck) who only a few weeks ago, was trying to form alliance with one of the few drake mallards left on the lake, has once again reverted back to his "bullying" and chasing behaviors more associated with early spring.
Brad is again "feeling his oats" though he seemed unnerved a few weeks ago, following the loss of Piggly (his partner in "crime") and the disappearance of most of the mallards on the lake.
Brad has a peculiar "love/.hate" relationship with mallards. -- He can't live with or without them. In the winter, Brad in willing to give up meals in order to appease mallards to stay and help keep the lake from freezing over. But, in the early spring and most of the summer, when there are plenty of mallards around and plenty of food, Brad will virtually spend all of his time harassing them -- even the female mallards. "I don't need you here now! GO ON!"
But, more than anything else, Brad is simply a very shrewd and calculating duck. And that is why, Wiggly (the other domestic duck on the lake) stays with him. Brad is Wiggly's protector and she companion to him.
The two ducks together are a formidable team on the Meer, although to this point, I have never seen Wiggly harass another duck. She will however, occasionally squawk loudly at Brad those times he wanders too far away harassing other ducks. "Hey, get back here! Don't leave me alone like this!" Strangely enough, Brad adheres to her demands.
Wiggly is a duck of few words. But, when she opens her mouth, Brad listens and jumps.
Meanwhile, this spring has been a productive time for the female mallards who remained at the Meer.
At least three broods of new duckling hatched so far this spring at Harlem Meer, two of which are already more than half grown and one of which (consisting of three ducklings) is able to survive on their own.
Additionally, a new family of ducklings has hatched over the past few days.
Duck "gathering" at Harlem Meer is occurring in more ways than one. This is a prolific season so far in terms of the mallards, although no duck families have so far been sited at either Turtle Pond or the Boat Lake. .
And so yes, "gathering time" is here.
But, as yet the nine geese who molted at Harlem Meer last summer have not yet shown nor do there appear to be any geese on the Reservoir.
Much remains to be seen over the coming weeks.
But, there is also much to fear for those resident geese returning to city parks for the molt.
One wonders if both the geese and ducks have any idea of what's in store once everyone is in place for the summer molt?
For many, if not most of the geese looking to city parks for "safety" during this fragile time, it is not just feathers they will lose, but their very lives.
"Gathering" normally an exciting time for nature watchers in NYC, is instead, a time of intense dread. -- PCA
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