Among the Geese, Love in Bloom

Romantic goose pair at Turtle Pond in Central Park yesterday.

Love in bloom.

Shortly after mating, the gander flaps wings in celebration while female splashes herself with water.

The last of the migratory Canada geese passed through Central Park more than two weeks ago.

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What remains now are those few "resident" geese who either plan to nest again or seek Central Park as safe place to go through the molting period in June/July when they lose their flight feathers.

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Continued goose harassment by Geese Police has resulted in only the most bold and adaptable geese remaining in Central Park.  -- those not deterred by chasing dogs, dominant paired geese and large volume of human activities.

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Currently, that appears to be less than a couple of dozen geese throughout the entire 839 acre park.

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Dominant "alpha" goose pairs (such as Napoleon and Josephine at Harlem Meer) have claimed territories at the Meer, the Boat Lake and the Jackie Onassis Reservoir.

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Yesterday, I noted the dominant goose pair at the Reservoir chasing off three geese who had stopped by and were peacefully gliding across the water.  The trio was unceremoniously given the "bums rush" and quickly had to depart.

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Fact is, we really don't need "Geese Police" when the geese themselves do an excellent job of limiting numbers allowed to share the watercourses throughout spring and summer. Rather, the endless human harassment seems just another way to squander money and celebrate our seeming intolerance for (and ignorance of) wildlife.

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Surprisingly, Napoleon and Josephine at Harlem Meer, do seem to be tolerating one other goose pair still remaining at the lake -- as long as the secondary pair keep only to the east side.  A peaceful truce and understanding seems to have evolved among the four geese over the past couple of weeks with each pair keeping to their designated sides of the lake.

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But, prepare as some geese might for nesting, the reality is that if Central Park follows the same path as last year, no eggs of Canada geese will be allowed to hatch this year either as all were addled (oiled) last year.  

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Personally, I don't look forward to seeing any geese actually nest in Central Park as it is heartbreaking to witness the couple's grief and mourning when their eggs fail to hatch.

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The geese go through so much when nesting.

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The gander has to stand guard of mate and nest for roughly 28 days with little rest. The goose loses up to 25% of her body weight when sitting on eggs with very little time to eat.

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Last year, when finally realizing their eggs were unviable, all geese actually "mourned" their losses for at least a couple of days, standing forlornly over the broken eggs (especially the females).

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Eventually, the geese moved on of course, because that is what nature compels them to do.

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But, I personally have little doubt that the losses of their offspring probably stay within the hearts of the geese for a long time.

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In short, it is beautiful and exciting to witness love in bloom among the geese during the glorious and life affirming spring.

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But, it is heartbreaking to witness their endless persecution and stress throughout the summer. 

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Perhaps modern human culture doesn't have much tolerance and respect for "love" these days -- unless it is love of self as witnessed by the obsessions with and endless Internet parades of "selfies."   -- PCA

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