Seeking Common Sense Goose Policy in Central Park

Preparing to nest. Another pair of "returned nesters" in Central Park -- in this case, Laura and Larry who three times previously, had their eggs oiled (rendered unviable) at Turtle Pond.

An interesting question was posed in email today from a good friend: 

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Doug writes: So, crossover question for you:  Assuming that you prefer addling, for example, to roundups but assuming further you think that a number greater than zero is a good (goose) population for CP and assuming finally that it is impossible to addle only some eggs and ensure the others will hatch and survive for unrelated reasons....where are you on the "bell curve" for a sustainable population of resident geese at CP and how would you accomplish that goal?

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On the first two points, Doug is absolutely right: I do view egg addling as the lesser of the evils when compared to lethal methods of goose management and yes, I do view a number greater than zero as desirable and necessary for resident geese in Central Park.

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However, while it may be true that it is "impossible" to addle only some eggs and guarantee others will hatch and survive, it is certainly possible to oil only a portion of laid eggs with anticipation that most, if not all of unaddled eggs will hatch and the goslings survive.

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It seems the first order of business in attempting to "manage" any population of wild animals is first to determine an optimum window of acceptable and desirable population for a specific area, according to the basic ecology, nature balance, size, safety and season.

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Central Park is 843 acres.   

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In past years, there could be as many as 100 resident geese on any of the individual lakes in Central Park (particularly, Harlem Meer). While granted this is a number that is likely to result in public "nuisance" complaint, (especially during the warmer months), the geese did not create significant damage to the lakes or lawns, nor did they pose serious risk to human or other animal safety or health.

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In recent years, the number of resident geese (those present in late spring, summer and fall) has been drastically reduced in Central Park through a combined program of harassment and addling (i.e. oiling, destruction) of all known goose eggs. (This is in addition to a lethal culling program conducted throughout other parts of the city by USDA Wildlife Services.)

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As previously noted, the number of resident geese in all of Central Park over the past three years is less than 40 -- way down from the couple of hundred of 5 or 6 years ago. And yet, even though the lethal and non-lethal goose management programs have been wildly successful, the harassment and total egg destruction in Central Park continue.

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One has to deduce from that, an apparent zero tolerance for geese in Central Park as the end goal appears to be eventual elimination of all resident Canada geese in one of the world's most prestigious parks. Were that not the case, addling would either cease during alternate years or only a portion of eggs would be oiled, allowing some to hatch.

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I don't know whether all eggs will in fact, be addled this year as they have been in recent years. But one has to presume such -- based on the continuing contract with Geese Police, part of which, includes destruction of all known eggs.

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Unfortunately, I have no power or sway to dictate or apparently even suggest policy in Central Park.  

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If I did, I would certainly cease all egg adding for this year and possibly next.

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Currently, there are at least four alpha pairs of geese (possibly five or even six) in Central Park who appear intent on and in preparation for nesting.  Even if all four pairs successfully nested and up to 24 goslings survived, that would only bring the number of resident geese in all of CP up to an approximate 65 -- still well below what it was 5 or 6 years ago and still more than manageable.

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If numbers remained at this level and that was acceptable and optimum to reasonable people, then next year we could revisit the issue of egg addling and decide whether it was necessary to resume in order to contain the number of geese. -- Or, we might only oil half the eggs next year.

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In other words, I believe the situation to be fluid and optimally flexible. The problem with policies "set in stone" (or contract) is that they lack the common sense and fluidity to adapt to a changing situation.

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Management to zero should not be acceptable policy for geese or for that matter, any wildlife.  -- PCA

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