50 Shades of Gray, White and Black in an Endless NYC Winter

The dark forms patiently waiting on the ice on what has become a winter devoid of color.

Red tail hawk preying this week on an unlucky gull who got stuck and died on the ice.

Two coots hanging close to the geese for added warmth and protection.

Arriving for breakfast this morning.

"Anything for me?"

 

Most were patiently waiting like little dark, frozen statues in the snow when I arrived this morning.

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The temperature was 2 degrees with wind chills, 20 below zero.

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But, to be frank, it didn't feel that differently from what most of this winter in NYC has become: A series of colorless, frozen days of black, gray and white and searing winds whipping across one's face.  After a while, it doesn't even feel that cold anymore. It's just normal in what has evolved into a really, really long winter.

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Christmas seems like it was six months ago. And I can't remember wearing anything beyond snow boots, winter parka, gloves and the hood of my coat wrapped snuggly around my head. What is, after all, a "bad hair day" when no one sees your hair anyway? Nor can I recall the last time I wore make-up apart from a dab of lipstick and touch of blush. But, one doesn't even need those anymore as the cold will presumably put lots of color on the face. A young man walking around hatless last week had nose and ears that were the reddest red I've ever seen. He could have led Santa's sleigh.

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But, still my heart goes out to the dark forms patiently waiting on the frozen ice. They are all squatted down tightly on their bellies to conserve what little heat remains in their bodies.

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I am not sure why most the geese are gathered at the place I usually feed as opposed to finding some warmth at the still open water under the fountain at the Reservoir. For some reason, the geese have never liked the water around the fountain and are rarely seen actually swimming in it. I am guessing, (but don't actually know) that the constantly spraying water bothers them.  But, if the geese are fussy, the ducks and coots aren't. They are usually in or around the water, spray or not.  It is the only place they can find any warmth at all.

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As soon as I arrive -- morning or evening -- the ducks, coots and any geese near the fountain's open water come flying, while the geese already at the feeding spot line up close to the embankment in order to get first digs at the food being tossed.

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So fast does the food disappear that it seems not to hit the ice at all.

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Meanwhile, those mallards brazen enough to fly up to running path, gather so closely to my feet that more than once, I have nearly tripped over or even stepped on them.

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In all the years I have been attempting to aid geese and ducks in winter, I have never seen such frantic desperation as this year.

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As noted previously, the main goal is simply to keep losses to freeze and starvation to a minimum.

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Even so, we lost 5 (known) water birds at the Reservoir in just the past week.  Two mallards, one goose, one coot and a ring-tailed Gull. 

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The gull appeared to get stuck in the snow and ice a few days ago and was ultimately preyed upon by a red-tailed hawk.  If any birds have benefited this winter, it is most likely the hawks and other raptors. This morning, I noted the hawk finishing up the frozen remains of what was the gull on the ice.

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A cruel winter for sure. But not without its benefits to some.

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Meanwhile, tomorrow we are supposed to get more snow, mixed with ice, sleet and freezing rain. More whites, grays and ultimately black city ice.

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Then on Sunday a one-day break from it all with temperatures to soar to 40 degrees.

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Will we have to break out the air conditioners in New York City to deal with the sudden onrush of unexpected heat?

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Not to fret as next week, it will go back down to 6 degrees and the 50 shades of gray, white and black. -- Indeed the only color to be seen, the bright reds of unprotected human ears and noses that could well light up the night. -- PCA

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