On the Wings of the Wild Geese

The three new domestic, Muscovey ducks at the Boat Lake in Central Park.  Debeaked and human imprinted, the survival outlook for these ducks over winter is bleak.

Goose 1 and Goose 2 returned to the Harlem Meer last night, seemingly seeking Cago.

 

Desperately Seeking Cago?

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Shock of shocks.

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There were TWO Canada geese at Harlem Meer in Central Park last night!

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Quick!  Call out the Geese Police, USDA WS and the National Guard!

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While not certain, it is suspected the two geese were "Goose 1 and Goose 2" who had been taken under Cago's wings some weeks back, but were likely harassed out of the Meer by Geese Police following a brief stay.

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I wondered if Goose 1 and Goose 2 returned to the Meer seeking Cago again?

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If so, their return was too little, too late as Cago perished last week.

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The geese appeared to recognize me and briefly came on the embankment to greet and check out. But, they were quickly spooked by some passers-by and flew back to the safety of the water.

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The kind of skittish, wary behavior was reminiscent of Goose 1 and 2 and so yes, I do believe it was them.

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But, I could not tell them that their mentor and adopted earth mother was gone.  They had to find that out for themselves.

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I suspect that either when not finding Cago and flying out on their own or again being harassed out of the Meer, Goose 1 and Goose 2 will not be at the Meer when I return.

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If they are, it will be even greater shock than finding them again in the first place.

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There are no welcome mats for geese anywhere in NYC these days.

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A Roundup of Nobel Purpose

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It is not often that we learn of goose and duck "roundups" that do not result in death of the animals.

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But, out of Montana today, come this refreshing video of domestic ducks and geese rounded up for their own protection over the winter -- as apparently is done every year:

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http://www.krtv.com/news/ducks-geese-rounded-up-at-gibson-pond-for-winter-54211/

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But, here in NYC, the domestic waterfowl in our park lakes and ponds are left to fend for themselves over the winter, usually having to swim 24/7 in order to maintain tiny pools of open water on otherwise frozen watercourses.   Those people daring to feed the domestic waterfowl over the winter are typically yelled at and scorned.

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If all this is not grim enough to think about, there is also the fact that three new domestic ducks were recently abandoned at the Boat Lake in Central Park.

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The Muskovey ducks are debeaked and extremely human-imprinted which results in them walking up to everyone and begging food.

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It is hard to imagine these three naive and overly trusting ducks surviving over a New York City winter. While one might hope they learn the basics of survival in a public park from the wild mallards, there are not a whole lot of mallards at the Boat Lake these days.  What's more the domestic ducks are debeaked and cannot graze in the same ways mallards or even unmutilated domestic ducks do.

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Were New York City, Montana, these particular ducks would presumably be rescued and sent to some sort of sanctuary -- especially over winter.

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But, New York City seems to be "liberal" and "compassionate" in claim only.

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Labels and claims ultimately mean nothing when it is action and non-action that ultimately determine the dispositions and actual lives of others.

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I am fantasizing about moving to Montana.

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And In Another Part of New York City.....

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No sooner was it written in this journal that virtually all birds over 4 lbs are in peril in New York City, then the media jumped over the latest bird to be labeled "nuisance" and "plague."  -- In this case, wild turkeys living in Staten Island:

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Wild turkeys plague an extended family on Staten Island (video) | SILive.com#i

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Dozens of wild turkeys on Staten Island have already been captured and slaughtered by USDA WS just a couple of months ago. But, the goal is obviously for more.

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Unfortunately, it is not difficult to find those individuals who have complaints about wildlife and the media is only too happy to provide propaganda soap box, complete with loaded terms, like "plague" or "health threat" to describe targeted wildlife.  

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Almost daily, local media in NYC provides "15 minutes of fame" to those people who have gripe against geese, raccoons, turkeys or even wild parakeets.

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Typically, the complainers will say they "don't want the animals killed, just removed." 

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But, anyone following wildlife management in this and other states, knows what "removal" almost always means.

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"Removal" and "euthanasia" are the two favorite euphemisms for killing by USDA WS.

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It's past time for the public to take its head out of the proverbial sand box and realize the true consequences of our whines (despite the attention it gets on TV). 

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USDA WS must be truly salivating with the prospect of more make-work killing contracts on animals  -- this time on turkeys.  

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Now that most of the geese have been wiped out in New York City, it is time to direct our murderous activities on some other hapless species such as swans, turkeys or raccoons.

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USDA WS thrives upon human/animal "conflicts" as indeed, it is these, that keep their coffers constantly filled.

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On the Wings of Geese

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I am not sure where Goose 1 and Goose 2 came from when suddenly returning to Harlem Meer last night.

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But, I am quite sure they will not be permitted to stay.  

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I would like to be there when they either leave on their own or are chased out by Geese Police.

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And then say a prayer to God to suddenly grant me the power to ride on the wings of geese.

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