Spring Peeking Through the Bone-Chilling Air? -- To Some of the Geese, It Is!

Geese and mallards hunkered down on mostly frozen Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park, as temperatures plunge and more snow on the way.

But, a first sign of spring as two ganders battle over mating rights?

Display of dominance?

"Time to eat guys, as migration not that far away now."

It takes some tough ducks and geese to opt to winter in New York City during the harshest weeks of winter. They have to quickly adapt to snow, iced over watercourses and temperatures that sometimes plunge to single digits. 

.

While the snow fall of this past week was not the "historical" epic disaster predicted by Mayor deBlasio, it nevertheless left city parks blanketed by a coating of what now is mostly, tightly packed ice.

.

Additionally, the city is in the grip now of an "Arctic Freeze" and more snow is forecast by tomorrow morning.

.

As open pools of water have all but frozen up at the Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park, the geese and ducks are surprisingly and stoically hanging in there. Fortunately for them, there is some type of underwater fountain that constantly springs up fresh water in the middle of the Reservoir. So, even when the Reservoir is otherwise iced over, there is always a pool of open water surrounding the spout. And it is around there, that the birds now congregate, as their last seemingly open water refuge in Central Park.

.

Over the past month, the geese, mallards and few coots have learned quickly how to navigate the ice without slipping too much, huddled closely together for warmth and when necessary, they take turns swimming to try and maintain open water.

.

But, one cannot help but wonder what they do for food?

.

With grounds covered in snow, watercourses iced over and little in the way of plants and grass, it seems meager pickings for the birds to sustain themselves over the deep weeks of winter.

.

But, I have noticed something over the past few years of observing migratory Canada geese who winter in NYC and specifically, the Reservoir.

.

That is, that they don't appear to be that desperate for food, despite the obvious short supplies.

.

This has prompted one to wonder more than once, if geese are able to somewhat suppress their appetites over the tough weeks of winter as some other species (particularly those who hibernate) do? 

.

I have never read anything to this effect, so I cannot say for sure. (However, during last year's particularly brutal winter, thousands of ducks and swans were reported to have starved to death along the east coast and Great Lakes, but not so many geese.)

.

From all appearances, it seems geese mostly "hunker down" in winter, moving and flying very little and seeming more concentrated on conserving calories and energy, rather than wasting them in active searches for food.

.

Mallards, on the other hand, don't seem as adept at conserving energy and calories as geese and rather are much more desperate for food.

.

While both the geese and mallards come each evening when I toss some cracked corn, sunflower seeds and even a little whole wheat bread on the ice, the need of the mallards is far greater and more urgent than that of the geese. The geese are almost blase about the food offerings and consistently allow the mallards to grab most of it. (Other times of the year, geese will peck at and chase off mallards who compete with them for food. But, not in winter.)

.

So, why is this?  Do geese suddenly become charitable and generous in winter, passively allowing mallards to gobble most of the food? Or, do they figure that they actually need or desire the mallards around to help maintain open water and provide warmth? Or, are they simply able to suppress their appetites? I am not sure of the answer to this, but perhaps, like so many things, it might actually be a combination of all three possibilities.

.

I do know this situation is however, very likely to change and change very soon.

.

Though they are the last geese to migrate in winter (typically arriving in late December or early January), the wintering Reservoir geese are the first to migrate back home, typically leaving Central Park in mid February.

.

But, before departing on long and treacherous journey, the geese have to calorie load.

.

Usually, a week or two before migration, the geese prepare themselves, by flying to the nearby North Meadow (or other grassy locations) to spend evenings grazing on whatever grass remains.

.

So far, I haven't seen actual evidence of that happening yet, though over the past few days, I have noted several flocks of geese flying into the Reservoir around sunset.  That suggests that some of the geese might already be moving around and starting the fattening up process.

.

But, for the moment, most of the geese still appear to be in "hunkering down" mode with little visible expenditures of energy and little urgent need for sustenance. (In fact, I sometimes think the main reason the geese come to me at all is mostly for social greeting, rather than desperate need for the treats I bring.)

.

Still, even that may be showing the first sign of change.

.

Last night, one of the ganders, in what might be one the first displays of battling for mates, picked a brief fight with another gander and chased off several others.

.

Hm, despite the frigid temperatures forecasted for this week and next, could spring actually be peeking through the bone-chilling air?

.

At least to some of the geese, it seems to be.  -- PCA

.

.

.

                                          **************