SOS: PLEASE FEED Water Birds as "Life Threatening" Arctic Freeze to Hit NYC!

Relegated to tiny refuge of still open water at the Boat Lake in Central Park, the ducks and geese are desperate for food and appear more than aware that the worst is about to come.

Feeding frenzy at icy Boat Lake yesterday.

One of three, domestic (flightless) ducks at Boat Lake.

Geese on frozen Reservoir.

Scrambling for best position.

One mallard flies to top of embankment for better access to food.

A goose at top of embankment despite slippery grip.

Finding tiny pool of water to warm up feet.

Mallards on running path at Reservoir.

A one-legged goose at Reservoir. One can only guess how this disabled bird is surviving.

 

It's long been speculated throughout this blog that water birds are acutely aware of dramatic weather changes before they actually occur.

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At no time has that been more apparent than yesterday in Central Park.

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The only time I have seen ducks more desperate for food was during last winter's record snow storms in New York City. (Thousands of ducks and swans starved to death last winter throughout the northeast.)  As recorded then, so hungry and desperate were the ducks, they literally tripped over themselves at my feet and grabbed food from my hand.

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I saw the same behavior -- and more -- yesterday both, at the Reservoir and the Boat Lake in Central Park.

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Mallards scrambled over themselves to get to the food and even poked their heads through the fences to scoop up stray seeds on the ground. Others batted my hands, trying to gain advantage over those just eating from the ice.  The geese too, were flying and scrambling to get to whatever they could as fast as they could. And though geese have usually been passive with ducks throughout the winter (allowing mallards to grab most of the treats), yesterday I noted several geese actually battling to fend the mallards off.

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Desperate times are calling for very desperate measures.

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Weather forecasters are predicting "life threatening" cold in New York City, starting today and lasting through Tuesday. That is five days of wind chills of 20 below zero, more snow and temperatures that will dip to near zero and fail to get out of the 20's.

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Already the tiny pool of open water at the north west part of the Boat Lake in Central Park has shrunk to about a dozen feet as a cluster of mallards and a few geese take refuge there. Particular concern is for the three domestic (flightless) ducks who are basically marooned on this tiny oasis should the whole lake freeze over this weekend. There is absolutely NO food for these birds on a frozen lake with grounds covered in ice and rock hard snow.  

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Yesterday, when arriving at the Boat lake, there were several people standing around taking photos of the desperate birds. But no one offered food.

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When the ducks and geese clustered around me in what was a feeding frenzy, the people delighted in the unusual photo opportunity.  This prompted me to request that the next time they come to the park, to bring some food for the birds.

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"These are water birds who have no water right now from which to obtain food." I said to two young women. "And you see grounds are covered in ice and snow.  That is why the birds are so desperate and you are seeing this frantic behavior. Unless receiving some support, some of these birds are likely to die over the frigid weekend."   

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I don't know that the pleas will work. But, I am also putting it out in this blog today.  If you live near a city park, please go today or over the weekend to distribute as much wild bird seed, bread, rice, corn, sunflower seeds or dry cat food as possible. Its not exaggeration to say, the birds are literally dying for it.

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Though I normally go to Central Park once a day to monitor and offer nutritional support to our struggling waterfowl at the Reservoir, yesterday, I went twice.

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The ducks and geese were even more desperate last night than they were in the morning. The second they saw me making my way on the Reservoir path, they flew, slipped and scrambled to get into position to grab what they could.

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A number of mallards flew over the fence to fetch stray seeds on the ice-covered running path. I attempted to hand-feed a few, but so frantic were they, they chopped down on my fingers in their desperation. A couple of geese also flew atop the ice-covered embankment, despite the slippery conditions. 

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When all food was gone, the geese and ducks continued to follow me along the ice, though I made it clear there was nothing left.

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I have never seen such desperate and totally frenzied behavior before in either the ducks or the geese.  I scrambled to get off the icy Reservoir path at the nearest exit so as not to "tease" the birds further.

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Finally, those familiar with this blog, know I have been critical of those crusading to ban carriage horses from Central Park. The reasons for supporting the carriage horses of NYC and opposition to the drive to banish them forever from our midst have previously been detailed and do not require further embellishment here.

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But, at no time have I been more disgusted with these people than yesterday and today.

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While wildlife in Central Park is clearly suffering and struggling under their noses, yesterday, members of NYCLASS, PETA and other fringe Animal Rights groups marched with protest signs alongside the carriage horses at Central Park South:

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http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/fashion-week-horse-carriage-rides-marred-protestors-article-1.2111611

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What animals do such negative and destructive actions actually help?

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The carriage horses will be brought inside their stables this weekend when temperatures fall below 18 degrees. The horses are provided with warm blankets and the best in nutritional and veterinary care. Most importantly, they have safe shelter and care from people invested in keeping the horses healthy and happy.

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The wildlife in our parks have none of these things as temperatures and wind chills are about to plunge to record levels over the next five days. Over the past several weeks, I have twice noted a one-legged goose at the Reservoir. One can only guess how this disabled goose has managed to survive so far, but for certain, it is a desperate and nearly impossible struggle.

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It would have been nice if the estimated 30 carriage horse protestors put down their signs yesterday and instead of whining and criticizing, distributed some feed to the desperate and needy water (and other) birds of Central Park. But, instead, it was deemed more productive to "protest" the objects of their so-called "pity" and pose for photographs.

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If that doesn't scream narcissism and disengagement, I don't know what does.

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What is Animal Rights after all, without care for animal welfare?

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The birds and other wildlife of our city parks are fully aware that they are in for a very rough and life threatening time over the next five days.

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If you care about animals at all, please visit local parks and distribute whatever you can in the way of nutritional support for the birds and other wildlife. 

If the animals could talk, they would tell you they care far more about their empty bellies and trying to hold on to the gift of life than they do any "rights" you could proselytize about or fancy photos you could take. -- PCA

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