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Temperature this morning in Central Park, NYC was 4 degrees with 20 below zero wind chills. High temperature today will be only 12 degrees.
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That represents more than a 50 degree plunge from yesterday's balmy 57 degree thermometer reading and an all time low for Central Park on this date.
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When arriving at Harlem Meer last night, (after a day of heavy rain and unseasonably warm temperatures) I expected some of the ice on the lake to be melted.
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But, I was wrong.
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The lake was a frozen block of ice, as if in preparation for the deep freeze about to occur (not a hole of open water anywhere).
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Surprisingly, a bunch of mallards still remained and came "ice skating" across the frozen lake to me in search of food. -- The ducks are amazingly adept at this skill, almost as good to qualify for Olympic competition.
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But, I suspect the only reason the mallards were still at the ice covered lake was in anticipation of an early evening meal. Its highly unlikely they stayed -- unless perhaps to take cover in some of the tall weeds and marsh that still surround the Meer.
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Weeds and marsh do enable waterfowl to find some protection from particularly brutal winds, as evidenced in the following incredible video shot the other day in Prospect Park:
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The understanding today is that Prospect Park is also now covered in ice with only a "tiny hole" of still open water.
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Unlike Prospect Park and Harlem Meer, there is very little brush remaining around the Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park for waterfowl to take cover from wind as virtually all of it has been cut down during the past year.
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It is speculated that is the main reason for virtually all of the Canada geese to suddenly vacate the Reservoir as of late yesterday afternoon despite the fact that most of the ice had melted and there was open water.
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The geese had also left the Reservoir just prior to the snow storm last week.
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Normally geese like "open spaces" as they allow for easy viewing of potential predators.
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But, apparently during storms or particularly brutal wind chills, they seek cover from the elements.
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Mallards and other ducks were still present at the Reservoir last night. But, being smaller than geese, it is hoped and anticipated they can find some cover in the few small plants and weeds scattered on rocks around the watercourse.
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But, regardless of exactly where the birds are during this frigid spell in New York City, they undoubtedly are forced to "hunker down" and just toughen out the harsh times.
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By the end of the week, temperatures are predicted to balloon up again to 50 degrees.
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I can then say again how much I "love winter" in New York City and particularly Central Park.
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But, for now, I and the ducks and geese are simply saying, "Bah humbug! This can't end soon enough!" -- PCA
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