Jesus Shows Geese the Way

Migratory Canada geese flying out of Central Park Reservoir to journey south.

"Geese Police" staking out daily, a goose-empty Harlem Meer.

Gaggles of Canada geese preparing for flight at Jackie Onassis Reservoir this morning.

Organizing for take-off.

Conner and Connie nervously grabbing a few bites this morning before Geese Police arrived.  But, where were Cochise and Carol?

For the first time in almost a year, I could not find the four domestic ducks, (Cochise, Conner, Connie and Carol) when going to Harlem Meer yesterday morning -- despite walking twice around the entire lake.

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But, the Geese Police van was there, despite the fact there have not been more than 5 geese at Harlem Meer anytime this summer or fall.

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There were no geese at the Meer yesterday and haven't been any since Cago perished almost two weeks ago.

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Disgusted by what seemed the sheer insanity of a "Get the Flock out" van at a location there were no goose flocks to "get out," I spoke to one of the two Geese Police employees, a pleasant-faced man in his late 40's or early 50's.  

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He was standing around, peering over the mostly bird-empty lake and drinking coffee.

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"Why are you here when there haven't been geese at the Meer in any numbers for months?" I asked.  "Are you also going to harass the migratory geese who come here to winter?"

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"As you can see, we haven't taken the dog or boat out and haven't for some time at the Meer," the man answered.  There are only three geese in Central Park right now and we leave them alone. We are not trying to eradicate the geese."

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"What about the migratory geese arriving to the Reservoir now to rest and then journey south?"

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"We don't stake out the Reservoir," came the reply.  "The Reservoir is owned by the city. Our contract is with the Central Park Conservancy.  We patrol the rest of the lakes and ponds in the park."

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"How long does your contract run?"

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"Our contract runs all year except for June and July when the geese are molting."

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"Well, that means you will be harassing migratory geese who, in December or January fly down from frozen lakes upstate to spend six weeks here at the Meer and other Central Park lakes!"

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"People complain about the geese.  They make a mess and each goose weights 17 lbs."

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"First of all, no one is picnicking or fishing at Harlem Meer in the middle of winter and secondly, geese do NOT weigh 17 lbs!  The typical goose weighs about ten pounds and less."   (I hate it when people deliberately lie and exaggerate to make their "case.")

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"We realize some people get upset with this," the Geese Police man continued.  "Some guy blamed us for chasing out the swan earlier in the year.  But, the swan had gotten stuck in ice last winter and had to be rescued."

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"The swan was here until April and flew out!" I replied. "I thought at the time the swan left because of the fishing, but he was obviously harassed out!"

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"The swan could fly?"

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"YES!"

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Embarrassed, the man again proclaimed that Geese Police was not there to "eradicate" or "harm" geese and that they did not harass ducks or other birds.

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"Then why can't I find the four domestic ducks this morning anywhere on the lake?" I questioned.

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The man had no answer for that other than to claim he and his partner had not seen the domestic ducks.

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While not a nasty or particularly confrontational conversation, it was unpleasant nonetheless.

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When later arriving home, I immediately called Caroline Greenleaf who is an administrator with Central Park Conservancy to complain about goose harassment this time of year -- when migratory geese arrive to the park.

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Greenleaf was apparently unaware of the migratory geese flying into and out of the Jackie Onassis Reservoir over the past couple of weeks.

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She told me the reason for employing Geese Police all year long was because any geese in Central Park represent a "health hazard."

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"Jesus Christ!  Are you telling me that THREE geese in an 843 acre park represent a 'health hazard'?  Please don't insult my intelligence!"

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"I will not continue to speak with you if you insist upon yelling and cursing," came Greenleaf's indignant reply.

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Trying to calm myself from what I perceived as one lie after the other, I told Greenleaf that the harassment was apparently having a frightening impact upon the four domestic ducks at Harlem Meer who I could not find yesterday.

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"I called the Wild Bird Federation about those domestic ducks," Greenleaf claimed. "We are concerned about the safety of those ducks over the winter when the lake freezes over."

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Aside from not knowing the correct name for the Wild Bird Fund, it was obvious that Greenleaf was confusing the domestic ducks at Harlem Meer with the three new domestic ducks abandoned at the Boat Lake last month.

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(The four domestic ducks at the Meer have been there almost a year, and the Conservancy didn't give a damn about them last winter when the lake nearly entirely froze.)

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Greenleaf further claimed that the Conservancy was not looking to "harm" the geese, but simply chase them out of the park.

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"But, you DO harm the geese when you send them somewhere else to be rounded up by USDA and slaughtered or shot upstate." I countered.

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The conversation was not only unpleasant, but downright confrontational.

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It finally ended when I told Greenleaf to remove my name from Central Park Conservancy's donor mailing list.

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"I will not contribute a dime to this endless persecution of wildlife."

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This morning, I returned to Central Park and Harlem Meer shortly after dawn.

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Good news is I saw two of the domestic ducks. 

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Bad news is I saw two of the domestic ducks.

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I did not see Cochise or Carol, but Conner and Connie warily emerged from the small island in the middle of the lake to visit with me briefly.

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When the Geese Police van showed up, the two ducks had already returned back to the island and totally camouflaged themselves amongst the trees and brush.

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I have to hope that Cochise and Carol were also hiding there, though I never saw either one.

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It is both, pitiful and disgusting that these vulnerable, flightless ducks have to take to "hiding" every morning when the lake is staked out by Geese Police awaiting any "terrorist" or "health hazard" goose flock that happens to show up.

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But, here is the kicker:

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The hundreds of migratory geese arriving from Canada and Sub Arctic over the past couple of weeks apparently KNOW that the only safe (unpatrolled) watercourse in Central Park is the Jackie Onassis Reservoir. 

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All the migratory's have flown into the Reservoir, rest overnight and then take off early in the morning to continue their long journey south.   (The Geese Police man told me they do not go to Reservoir because it is owned by the city and their contract is with the Central Park Conservancy.)

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I cannot figure how geese from thousands of miles away could possibly "know" not to fly into Meer or any of the other lakes and ponds at Central Park where Geese Police stakes out daily.  

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It must be that Jesus Christ (apparently a curse phrase to some people at Central Park Conservancy) guides and shows them the way.

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I did not call the Lord's name as curse, but rather as aid to confront obvious lie.

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Thank you, Jesus for looking out for and protecting our forever maligned geese.  Please continue to bless and guide them to safety.  -- PCA

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