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The keystone cop-like scenario of "Geese Police" chasing a flightless goose around a lake in Central Park apparently did not occur this morning, according to witnesses.
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Was Geese Police worn out from the stress of yesterday, requiring an emergency day off? Did they change the time schedule in order to avoid angry, little old ladies? Or, did they finally consult the rule book for goose harassment and learn that molting geese are off limits for reasons of both, futility and animal cruelty?
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Who knows?
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But, for once the four domestic (flightless) ducks and one-legged, disabled goose (Kaitlin) didn't have to hide in the weeds, while the man from Geese Police paddled around his canoe in relentless pursuit of a gander who could not fly.
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All great comedies must come to an end. Let's hope this one isn't repeated like dreaded TV reruns.
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As we approach the first of June, those geese who traditionally fly into Central Park for the molting period are beginning to show up. (A period of roughly four to six weeks when geese lose their flight feathers and are incapable of flight.)
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The molting Central Park geese don't constitute a big number -- no more than 35 over the past few years, most of them settling in at the Boat Lake or the Reservoir.
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As of this morning, there were six new geese at the Reservoir and a few new pairs at the Boat Lake.
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Some of the new geese appear very close to molting as the feathers are straggly with some loose ones. I guess that is why these few made it in earlier than the rest. Not all geese molt at the same exact time -- a lesson born out by "Man" the gander at the Boat Lake (and the subject of particular focus by Geese Police) who started the molt at least a week and a half ago.
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Along with arrivals of geese seeking a safe and known place for the molt, USDA Wildlife Services usually also arrives to New York City to map out its roundup and killing locations for hapless, flightless geese around city parks or Jamaica Bay Wildlife "Refuge." (Sadly, one must put quotes around "Refuge" as Jamaica Bay has been the site of hundreds of goose cullings over the past two years.)
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So far, the geese of Central Park have fortunately been spared from such dastardly deeds -- mostly because their numbers are low, but probably more significantly because it would be very hard to pull off the roundups (even at dawn) without being seen by park goers. Many people are already upset with the harassment and egg destruction tactics, which though overdone and cruel (depending on circumstances) are not lethal to the adult geese.
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GoosewatchNYC is the group specifically organized to monitor and oppose USDA goose slaughters around the city. https://www.facebook.com/GooseWatchNYC?fref=ts. If one lives near a NYC park that has been targeted in the past for goose culls, it is likely to be targeted again. Please sign up with this site to keep abreast of USDA WS activities in NYC. We are fast coming up on the "busy" time for USDA goose slaughters around the city. Usually such roundups begin in the last quarter of June and continue through the second week in July.
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Though news has generally been frustrating and depressing regarding geese around NYC and even Central Park, there are nevertheless, glimmers of hope.
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That hope is now carried on the tiny wings of four baby goslings who successfully hatched at the Reservoir a few days ago.
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So far, all four hatchlings continue to thrive and appear to be of sound bodies and sharp little minds.
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It was particularly fascinating to witness a particular scene the other night:
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Mommy, Dad and babies were gathered at the edge of the water with the goslings munching some greens growing through the rocks. All of a sudden, a raccoon came wandering along the top of the rocks and Hansel, (the daddy gander) immediately emitted a low, lulling sound ("Uhhhhhooo") which apparently was a warning or directive for the goslings to return to the parents, pronto. Faster than one could blink an eye, all four hatchlings immediately bolted back to the parents and were safely under Daddy's wing.
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Once all four babies were safely and tightly in tow, the family swam away to another part of the Reservoir.
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I found this scene fascinating for several reasons:
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First, though only two days old at the time, the goslings already understood the warning and directive from parent and quickly responded. Secondly, rather than confronting the wandering raccoon (as they do when nesting), the parent geese chose to gather up the little ones and move away.
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As previously noted, most animals don't seek confrontation if they can avoid it. When nesting, geese don't have the option of moving eggs so they have to be prepared to fight off any potential threat. But, when having goslings, they choose, instead to move away from threat. This is certainly the more practical and sensible decision under the circumstances.
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Geese are amazingly intelligent and for the most part (except when nesting) peaceful animals.
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It is truly a pity that more people (especially government and park officials) cannot appreciate geese for the wondrous and devoted creations of nature they actually are.
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They should be welcomed in our parks, rather than scorned, slaughtered and endlessly harassed.
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Yes, it was nice today to get a mini vacation from the keystone, Geese Police. That only such peace could prevail -- as it does so in the geese themselves. -- PCA
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