Where does one begin to address the barbaric and senseless carnage that occurred in a small Ohio community yesterday?
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
"Ominous Predictions"
Full moons and banging drums. Its been a rough few days in New York City.......
I am not sure if there have been a series of full moons or the recent rallies and Occupation Wall Street movement in NYC has set everyone on edge and seemingly ready to do instant battle.
Speaking for myself, I am normally someone who likes to look at all sides of an issue before taking an actual position. I like debate. I like dialogue. And I like to learn how others think -- including those who have a different perspective on something than I do.
Perhaps this is one reason for engaging in numerous conversations with officials at USDA regarding goose roundups and killings around the country. We obviously don't agree. But, I like knowing the opposition's justifications and rationalizations for doing what they do and advocating what they advocate.
Perhaps this is one reason for engaging in numerous conversations with officials at USDA regarding goose roundups and killings around the country. We obviously don't agree. But, I like knowing the opposition's justifications and rationalizations for doing what they do and advocating what they advocate.
It may come as a surprise to those who view me as "radical" or extreme on protection of Canada geese to learn I am usually moderate on most other issues and view myself as a political Independent, (as opposed to straight "Republican" or "Democrat" or "liberal" vs. "conserative").
I hate all the partisanship, polarizing gridlock and political oneupsmanship in Washington, and feel that both parties have let the American people down. Too much time spent on obstructionist tactics, blaming the other party and political posturing for purposes of winning elections than seeking true solutions, understanding of others positions and compromise.
The country is in a mess. But, it seems few are actually listening or openly communicating.
Rather, there is tendency to distort reality and seek reasons and ways to attack.
In the past few days I have found myself on the front end of accusations and attacks from those within my own field of goose or animal advocacy.
In one case, I was told I am "pushing the cart too fast" on goose advocacy.
A charge I found stunning considering there are no geese in Central Park for the past two months at a time there would normally be more than 100.
If I could be accused of anything on the goose issue, it is (to my belief) being too slow and reactive, as opposed to being proactive enough.
But, I attempted to be "proactive" this week by suggesting to others in the cause, that questions pertaining to details of the goose harassment program should be posed to the leadership of another park that still has geese. (I apparently failed to do this adequately with Central Park officials and have since awoken to the rude surprise of no geese at all in my local park.)
But, I seemed to run into a wall of resistance and fears that pushing such questions now would result in "alienation" from park leadership.
Well, one has to wonder: If we don't raise such questions now -- during a time more than 3,000 geese have been destroyed from city parks over the past three years and while hundreds of other geese have been harassed and chased out of "safe" areas like Central Park only to be killed elsewhere -- when do we raise them?
When there are no geese left to either harass or kill in all of New York City?
It will be a little late then. -- As it is apparently too late now to raise these questions to Central Park leadership.
But, if it was a little disconcerting and frustrating to be accused of pushing "alienating tactics" by merely suggesting that goose harassment needs to be questioned and addressed now, it was mind blowing to be accused of "supporting" the use of horses at events like the Occupy Wall Street rally held at Times Square over the weekend.
A poster on a Facebook page questioned the use of horses at the demonstration and requested that someone play "Devil's Advocate" and explain the logic or rationalization for it.
Putting myself in the position of a cop or "devil's advocate" I attempted to explain why horses are used at large events for purposes of "crowd control." Should matters get out of hand, horses are large animals, that although not dangerous or violent, can intimidate or compel people to move back.
Anything can, after all happen at large crowd gatherings. Especially if people are angry about something. What happens if someone shows up with weapons? What if a few people become violent? What if a panic sets in among the crowd?
Personally, I don't like the use of horses at large crowd events -- especially demos that have greater potential for getting out of hand and becoming volatile or chaotic.
But, the fact is that horses are trained and used for this purpose, not just in the US, but all over the world. And they will continue to be used, whether we like it or not. Its an unfortunate fact of life and just one more example of humans putting our needs above what would be a natural setting and life choice for an animal. I attempted to warn others to expect police horses at future large scale demos, but somehow all of that was interpreted to mean that I personally "support" the use of horses in this way!
I don't. But, I understand the justifications and rationalizations for it, just as I understand the rationalizations for killing geese.
But, I am hardly a "supporter" of goose killings anymore than a supporter of using horses in wars or to control large, potentially volatile crowds.
Yes, its been a rough and frustrating few days.
Everyone talking, chanting, banging drums and endlessly hurling accusations.
But, seemingly no one actually listening or communicating.
Yesterday morning, I walked my dogs around the Reservoir, the Pond ( Upper West Side) and Harlem Meer.
Not one goose to be seen anywhere in a more than two hour walk.
"Pushing the cart too fast?"
I have to wonder what would the reality be were I pushing the cart too slow or not pushing at all?
I have also been accused over the past few days, of "ominous predictions."
That accusation is unfortunately true.
Its hard to look at the recent past in terms of NYC goose killings and harassment, as well as the current reality of no geese in my local park and feel "optimistic." Such would seem to warrant some major dysfunction of the brain to process information and facts or quite frankly, the eyes to even see.
So, back to the original question:
Has there been a series of full moons or have all the recent "occupies" and demos set people on a kind of war path of hypersensitivity and over-reaction to seemingly everything from mere suggestions to the presence of horses at large crowd events?
I don't know.
It just seems really ugly these days with all the unhappiness, gripes, grievances, endless accusations and complaints.
I just really miss the presence, peace and serenity of the geese.
A presence I was able to find even on the darkest day in NYC, 9-11, but cannot find now.
"Ominous predictions," indeed. -- PCA
*********
Friday, October 14, 2011
Empty Pages
Had someone told me a year ago, that from the period of late August to mid October, there would not be one Canada goose in Central Park (or even just Harlem Meer) I would not have believed it.
And yet, except for the couple of days of temporarily spotting the Turtle Pond goose family at Harlem Meer, that has exactly been the case.
No flyovers, no geese grazing on a lawn or lazily swimming in a pond or lake. No geese at all, except for the family of five geese who now have me asking myself if they were mirages or figments of my imagination?
As quickly as the family consisting of two parent geese and their three surviving yearlings had appeared, they were gone a day or two later.
Some days I come to this journal (which over the past year has been dedicated to Canada geese) and, like a writer suffering "writer's block," there is nothing to say.
But, its not because of having a blank page before me. Its because of having a "blank page" so to speak in Central Park. A blank and empty page of the subject I am supposedly researching, studying and writing about.
A couple of years ago, when first noticing and becoming fascinated with Canada geese in Central Park, I wanted to learn about them.
I set out to find a book about the life patterns, communications, behaviors and characters of Canada geese. But though going to several large book stores, I could find nothing except those books offering information on where to find the birds for "hunting."
The same was true in on-line searches, whether articles or web sites.
Although the Audubon Society website provided some information on the history and origins of Canada geese, there was little in terms of the specifics I was searching for.
So, that is when I decided the study and photograph the birds myself.
In May of 2010, I was fortunate to discover a goose family at Turtle Pond in Central Park.
According to other bird observers, the six goslings were hatched on Mother's Day in 2010. The parents had returned to and nested at Turtle Pond for some years, but in previous years, their eggs had been oiled and were prevented from hatching. But, in 2010 the pair nested in the rocks of Belvedere Castle and presumably their eggs were not discovered and thus hatched.
It was a wonderful experience watching the "babies" grow up and the devotion and protection of both parents. Moreover, I discovered the geese to be extremely social birds who enjoyed interactions with people and easily recognized friendly human faces. Indeed, the parent geese even seemed to realize quickly those dogs who were not a threat to them.
Over the next few months, I visited Turtle Pond everyday with my two dogs and took dozens of photos of the geese and their growing goslings. Many of the photos were of people and children feeding the geese and taking their own photos. Indeed, everyone seemed to relish in this glorious wonder of nature before them.
Children especially loved the geese. More than once, parents had to beseech their kids to finally come away, but it seemed the children never tired of the parent geese and their "babies." I recall particularly a man holding a little girl about three-years-old who had the biggest smile on her face when looking at the geese and continually giggled. When finally leaving, the little girl cried and waved her hand in frustration to return to the geese!
Sometimes, I visited Turtle Pond in the evening. It was amazing then to see the family gathered together on the large rock at the east side of the pond. Papa always stood alertly as "sentry" a few feet away from Mama goose and the goslings huddled closely together. Indeed, I began to wonder if the Papa goose actually ever slept? But, a few times I noticed the parents actually changing places in order presumably for the gander to finally catch a little rest, while mama kept vigilance.
All the geese knew me and especially the goslings immediately came to me every time I showed up. All six of them ate from my hand, while usually the parents stayed a few feet back and carefully watched.
So protective are geese parents, that a mother mallard with her flock of ducklings, would sleep within feet of the goose family every night. I attributed that to the security that the geese provided for the ducks and other waterfowl.
One of the six goslings had a condition called "Angel Wing" which meant he would never be able to fly. Both wings drooped to the ground and splayed out, giving him a distinct appearance from the others.
I named that particular gosling, "Binky."
Ironically, Binky was the most trusting and friendly of all the geese.
On July 8th of 2010, a major news story broke and was covered in the New York Times of a USDA roundup and gassing of 368 Canada geese and goslings at Prospect Park in Brooklyn.
Community members were outraged at the secret slaughter and formed a special Facebook page which I immediately signed on to.
Although I had been writing a blog for several years about experiences in cat and dog rescue and adoptions, I began to shift the focus then from companion animals to the plight and "war" against Canada geese.
I also felt it important to "log" everything I could about the geese, including their characters, behavior and life patterns in effort to counteract all the misinformation and vitriol about them.
The geese thus became in addition to already being a personal "research" project, a cause of particular devotion and focus. And the direction of this blog entirely changed.
It could be said that after more than 20 years in companion animal rescue and placement, a part of me felt I had learned (and done) all that could be learned and sought to expand horizons. But, I believe more to the point, I felt that with animals being brutalized, slaughtered and killed in virtually ever part of the planet, the one place we needed to draw the line was the so-called "peace and serenity" of our public parks.
If animals could not be safe in our city parks where could they ever be safe?
In the months that followed that fateful July 8th morning goose massacre, demonstrations were held for the geese and efforts were made to organize on their behalf. We learned that goose killings were not just specific to Prospect Park, but in fact were occurring all over New York City and were part of a larger plan by the Mayor of New York and various federal, state and city agencies to "rid" New York City of its "resident" goose population.
Meanwhile, I continued to observe and write about the special Turtle Pond goose family, as well as geese observed at Harlem Meer. http://www.flickr.com/photos/50648758@N07/5050138631/in/photostream
In August of 2010, all the geese of the family, including the goslings had developed their flight feathers and with the exception of Binky were ready to fly. The parents taught the youngsters to fly and for several weeks began to fly short distances and return to Turtle Pond. Binky, thus had to get used to short periods alone.
But, eventually, the family had to leave to return to the "staging" site for geese (at that time, Harlem Meer.)
It was sad and pitiful the first night Binky was alone on the pond.
For the first time, he cried out, long and plaintive H---O----N----K---S continually swimming on the pond searching and calling out for his family.
The family actually returned a few times after that, to presumably "check" on the welfare of their flightless gosling, but they would leave again after a day or so to return to gathering site. They prepared Binky well for the challenges ahead and for being on his own.
Eventually, Binky learned to hang with the mallards and to take more cautions than would be otherwise normal with a gaggle of geese or his family around.
Though only a few months old, it is truly amazing how smart and adaptable Canada geese actually are. (What 4-month old puppy or kitten could survive entirely on his/her own?)
Around that time, I spoke with Park Rangers about the future for Binky, as Turtle Pond entirely freezes over in the winter and all the mallards leave.
It was determined to allow Binky to stay at Turtle Pond until shortly before it would freeze over and then to arrange a rescue for him.
That actually occurred in November of last year. Binky was rescued and sent to a private and apparently wealthy estate owner who had taken in similar compromised birds in the past.
But, meanwhile the struggle for the geese as a species remained and in fact, intensified as has been logged in this daily journal over the past year.
But, now I find myself at a kind of crossroads.
How does one observe, research and write about a subject that has all but disappeared from his/her scope of vision?
One can of course share articles and other information. But, that is not the same as personal observations.
Last night, when walking home from a once again, devoid of any geese, Harlem Meer, I cynically and bitterly thought to myself:
"Thanks, Mr. Mayor. Thanks USDA for literally killing my research project in the middle of its creation."
Over the years, I have wondered why, with all the research projects, films and books devoted to learning about rare and exotic species, we have so few devoted to the most prevalent and adaptable species among us -- i.e. those species of animals we actually live with or around, such as pigeons, sparrows, raccoons or Canada geese?
Perhaps that's because we are too busy demonizing, killing and taking for granted, those who dare to live anywhere around humans?
Apparently, even I made the mistake of "taking for granted" the Canada geese in my park.
Despite being fully knowledgeable of the egregious circumstances and eradication campaigns against them, I somehow thought the geese I came to know in Central Park -- including the many dozens who "gathered" and stayed for brief periods in in the spring and fall at Harlem Meer -- would somehow "adapt" and survive the predations.
But, I find myself now looking at blank pages.
Not the blank pages of a computer screen.
But, the empty pages of research -- and lives interrupted. --
And instead of writing about the lives and life patterns of geese, I am writing about their disappearances and destruction.
**********
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
A Little Green Machine and a Glimmer of Hope
Its not often we get good news regarding planned goose roundups and killings that get canceled, but this appears to be one of those very rare instances:
I remember the Saranac Lake controversy well.
As so typical in instances where geese congregate around a lake or on grass, people complained about a few dozen geese grazing and pooping on school grounds.
The "plan" this past summer was to have USDA death squads come in, round up the geese in late June or early July (during molting) and gas them.
Fortunately, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) protested the planned slaughter and suggested non-lethal alternatives. Fortunately too, the story hit the local papers, affording people (like myself and other goose defenders) the chance to comment and protest.
That the roundup was to occur on school grounds made this circumstance particularly egregious in terms of the "message" it would send to impressionable children.
While it might be self-congratulatory to say that the combined efforts of HSUS and fellow goose advocates succeeded in persuading the school board to cancel the planned goose slaughter, it seems the geese helped their own cause by leaving school grounds in June (presumably to molt someplace else) and thus, the lethal roundup was canceled.
Most likely, it was, however, a combination of all factors that ultimately succeeded in sparing the geese of Saranac Lake because, as we know, the USDA is able to conduct roundups at other times of the year (when geese can fly) through the use of rocket nets and/or sedatives. (Apparently, following the molting period, several dozen geese returned to Saranac Lake.)
But, the truly good news is that school district officials recently purchased the Nature Sweep machine, as suggested in comments and letters, to pick up goose droppings and other debris and so far, the results appear to be very promising.
Droppings are then gathered and composted and can later be sold or used as fertilizer.
There is thus excellent possibility that ultimately the machine pays for itself.
(For further information on Nature Sweep: YouTube - Nature Sweep )
This is a very positive development and hopefully can serve as model to other communities struggling with "complaints about goose poop" and.or considering lethal goose culls.
There truly is no excuse in these days of humane, effective and proven means of managing goose populations and keeping lawns clean, to engage in barbaric, ruthless and irrational wildlife extermination campaigns.
That only the cheap, stubborn and apparently very callous and ignorant leadership of New York City would get this message.
But, it is not too late to keep hounding them.
We simply cannot afford -- either morally, ascetically or financially -- further goose roundups and slaughters in New York City.
If small communities like Saranac Lake can ultimately do the right thing, what is wrong with New York City?
That is a question that needs to be constantly posed to local representatives, the city council, park officials and our billionaire Mayor who apparently equates goose gassings with "pleasant dreams" and ruthless, mindless slaughters as "charity."
A little green machine and a glimmer of hope; there is indeed, a better way. -- PCA
*********
Monday, October 10, 2011
Launching Pads and Black Mirrors
Much has been written in this journal about this time of the year representing "gathering" season for geese (and mallards) just prior to the fall migrations.
Today, there is a short, but highly informative piece regarding this subject:
Contrast that to this article out of Iowa this week announcing "setting the dogs" on an estimated 100 geese gathered around a lake in Urbandale, Iowa:
Although myself and a colleague comment to pieces like these with the hope of educating those in decision-making positions, unfortunately, such posts are coming after the fact.
Too often in animal advocacy we are "reacting" to decisions already made, as opposed to influencing those to be considered.
What is truly astounding in almost all of these scenarios is exactly how much ignorance abounds pertaining to the natural behaviors and life patterns of geese.
"Setting dogs on geese" in the fall or forbidding feeding by park patrons does absolutely nothing to address actual population of geese in a particular area. Actions to address population growth have to be taken in the early spring when geese return to places of birth to nest and reproduce -- not in autumn when geese "gather" prior to migration launchings (as said in commentary to latter article). Such is only to engage in animal cruelty and waste taxpayer or donor money. Most of the geese would leave anyway in late October or November. All would leave once the watercourses freeze over.
Of course, Central Park in New York City engages in goose "hazing" in the fall of the year, much to one's great disbelief and dismay.
Saturday night, I walked with my dogs around the Reservoir in Central Park, as well as Turtle Pond, the Great Lawn and around part of the Boat Lake.
Not one goose to be seen on any of the watercourses or grass. (For that matter I did not see any mallards either in these areas. The mallards are mostly "gathered" at Harlem Meer now -- the former gathering site for the geese.)
Looking out over the still, dark Reservoir, the background city buildings reflected like diamonds on its waters, it reminded me of a black mirror. Nothing moved.
The same was true of Turtle Pond and the Boat Lake.
While it can be hard to actually see waterfowl at night, one can usually make out the moving "V's" created in the water when they are swimming.
No V's. No movement. -- Black mirrors.
Indeed, the only non-human life observed Saturday night, was a family of raccoons who quickly scampered up a tree when spooked by my dogs. However, what I guess to be the "papa" raccoon remained near the bottom of the tree and stared at my dogs as if to warn them not to come closer.
I wondered if raccoons are a little like geese in terms of family and protection?
(I am not sharing the location of the family of raccoons, because they, like the geese are on the city's and park's crap list. That is certainly one thing geese and raccoons have in common: Both species are vilified and deemed "pests.")
Though disappointed not to see any geese (or ducks) in the four locations, I was not surprised. It is still too early for migratory birds from the north to arrive to the Reservoir and none of the locations are typical "gathering" sites for NYC geese or mallards.
Part of me was probably hoping to find the Turtle Pond goose family seen last week at Harlem Meer, but its likely they were either harassed out of Central Park or perhaps left on their own when (still) not finding any other geese there.
Last night, I returned to Harlem Meer.
Since late August, new mallards have steadily been arriving to the Meer to gather as the geese used to do. There are perhaps as many as 100 mallards at the Meer right now. The mallards gather, rest and eat heartily this time of year, in order to build up energy and fat reserves for either the stresses of migration or (for those who remain in NYC through the winter) cold weather and lower food supplies.
Of the 100 or so mallards at the Meer now, most will begin to "launch" later this month or November to migrate south. But, around 30 - 40 of what I call the "regulars" will remain.
When the Meer freezes over, most of the "regular" mallards will leave as well, but probably only to the Reservoir. They tend to bounce back and forth over the winter, leaving when the weather gets particularly hostile and returning to the Meer when hungry.
Of course, Brad, the Rouen, flightless duck, pictured, can't go anywhere. And he is the one duck I am particularly worried about as he lost both his mate, Angelina this spring, as well as Joey, the Pekin duck last winter. By himself, Brad will not be able to maintain a small pool of open water to survive over the winter. It was a struggle last year when Brad had two other hearty birds to help him. I don't see Brad surviving alone this winter. But, apparently I am the only one concerned. Despite all that has been written about Brad no one has offered him a real home. And Central Park officials and rangers seems to regard Brad as a "wild hybrid."
As said at the top of this post, real knowledge about the geese and ducks seems to be missing from those in positions of authority who actually make decisions about them.
Of course all that I am describing about the mallards used to also be true of the geese.
But, between the city's "removal" and eradication program against the geese and Central Park's endless harassment of the few geese who managed to survive, they are now a vanished species in Central Park.
In past years, as many as 50 to 100 migratory geese would fly into Central Park over the winter and mostly stay at the Reservoir (which doesn't entirely freeze over) with a few geese making occasional stops at Harlem Meer.
But, that number dropped precipitously last year when very few geese were observed either at the Reservoir or Harlem Meer.
Unfortunately, Central Park also used harassment against the migratory geese as late as mid November of last year, so once again, it is hard to tell what is "normal," what actually signifies deep population declines and what is irrational "hazing."
I just know I have reached a point of total disgust with our so-called "management" of the geese and endless ignorance and persecution of these birds.
I don't believe it is long before we will be doing the same to mallards.
The launching pads of gathering sites to eventually disappear to be replaced by the black mirrors of lifeless black water or ice under the midnight skies. -- PCA
********
Saturday, October 8, 2011
A Movement of Thousands and a Movement of One
One thing that pleases about the Occupy Wall Street crowd is that, for a change, people have something other than geese, to vent frustrations upon. And in this case, some of the targets are better placed and more appropriate.
But, I am still confused with the actual number of those targets and the specific goals of the protesters.
Last night, I spent some time on the Occupy Wall Street FB page and read some of the articles and posts to try and get a better feel for it. (26) Occupy Wall St.
Perhaps I am dense, stupid or old, but I still don't have clear understanding of the Occupy Wall Street movement.
There is obviously a lot of anger towards corporate America, the banks, Wall Street, lobbyists, politicians, hedge funds, the media, Capitalism and the super rich. (I am glad my personal grievances with the powers that be are a little more confined and directed.) It seems a bit exhausting and overwhelming to grieve and protest so many different things.
There is little doubt that many of the grievances are well founded and legitimate.
I do believe that most politicians are beholden to and in many cases, "bought" by corporate interests and lobbyists.
I also believe there is too much power, corruption and secrecy in government and lack of transparency (as we learned all too well with the massacres of the geese and almost total lack of community notifications and input).
But, from there the Occupy movement seems to get murky and its specific goals, nebulous.
Are they looking to take down our entire form of government? Or, just tax the rich more?
There is a lot of emphasis on the "99% (regular folks) vs the 1%" (super rich.).
But, the super rich aren't just corporate CEO's, bank and Wall Street executives, or hedge fund operators.
They're also movie, music and TV stars, most celebrities, Plastic Surgery doctors, and successful athletes.
What about protesting Hollywood, Yankee stadium or a Cosmetic Surgery clinic?
Remembering back on the various movements of the 60's, most of them had particular focus, whether it was to protest the Viet Nam war or to champion civil and women's rights.
This seems to be about everything from workers rights, to union rights, to senior rights, to student rights to the evils of Capitalism, corporate America, Wall Street and mass media.
Like a grab bag of grievances and it seems one simply picks their favorite.
Unfortunately, I don't personally feel part of the 99% or 1% as my particular grievance (goose massacres) doesn't seem to be included in the grab bag of complaints -- nor am I super rich.
At some point, I believe the Wall Street occupiers are going to have to focus and direct more and come up with some specific list of actual goals or targeted boycotts.
Right now, the movement appears to be successful in attracting thousands of participators and those with a grievance or frustration about something.
But, that isn't good enough.
The weather is nice now and it might be fun to camp out with others in a city park who have similar beefs with the status quo. Its like a whole new adventure, similar to rock climbing in the Rockies or participating in a Triathlon.
But, a month or two from now things will change and its not going to be quite so much fun to camp out in freezing temperatures, wind and snow. Media will die down and move on to celebrity weddings or the Super Bowl.
Occupy Wall Street will need to get their act better together before that and begin to focus on actual and more defined, "winnable" objectives.
What's "new" in this culture becomes old very quickly.
Even the most ardent protestors of the 60's moved from, "The Times They Are a Changin'" and "San Francisco" to "Saturday Night Fever" and "You Light Up My Life" in the 70's.
Only the most committed and most focused stay on for the long haul through all the political wrangling and setbacks before eventually achieving real and lasting change (if in fact they do).
For my part however, I am still focused on my particular grievances and quests. I am thinking about checking out different areas of Central Park today in effort to find the family of five geese who were at Harlem Meer last week (but since flew or were chased away) -- or, any geese at all.
As some poster said on a goose article site this past week: "Who knew there were goose lovers out there?"
Who knew, indeed?
Well, there's at least one in New York City. -- PCA
**********
Friday, October 7, 2011
Cement and Glass; Fake Trees and Plastic Grass -- A Perfect World!
"Lord, grant me the serenity to accept those things I cannot change.
The courage to change the things I can.
And the wisdom to know the difference."
That of course is the familiar prayer that is the mantra of A.A.
I am not an alcoholic, but found myself thinking of that prayer earlier this evening.
I realize I have little or no power to "change" the current, irrational "war" on Canada geese.
The stakes are overwhelmingly against these birds, whether from government, politicians, "wildlife biologists," agencies, hunters, media and perhaps most disturbingly of all, the public.
Yes, there are scores of people who truly appreciate the geese and value them in our parks.
But, as A.G. of the USDA said to me two weeks ago, "I am sure they care more about football games."
I have to concede that is probably true.
I remember a couple of years ago, two swans at Harlem Meer.
Everyone loved the swans. All kinds of people -- men, women and children fed and photographed the beautiful swans constantly.
But, I recall feeling concerned for the female swan when noticing her looking lethargic and depressed on the lake over a couple of days.
Others told me at the time, "Don't worry. She will be fine."
About a week later, she disappeared and I later found out from Park Rangers, they found her dead in the lake one day. "Botulism" was what the autopsy later revealed.
Her mate, the male swan searched for her all over after she died -- even the empty Lasker swimming pool. About two weeks later, he disappeared from the Meer in seeming despair over the loss of his mate. He was never to be seen again.
But, certainly people loved the swans. -- Just apparently not enough to actually save one when she became ill.
It is somewhat like that for the geese.
Many people love them. Just not enough to defend them and work to end their persecution and massacres.
Googling current articles on geese on a daily basis, it is stunning the number of pieces that malign and vilify the geese, sometimes blatantly and sometimes in more subtle manner.
For example today, there is this piece from public radio:
Though actually a short and fairly factual and informative article, there is one sentence that likens the geese to a spreading disease:
"A combination of events led to the spreading of these resident geese."
Regardless of what the rest of the article says, this one sentence conjures up images of the plague.
Normally, I and a couple of other dedicated activists comment to articles that besmirch and demonize geese when possible, but this has become like a full time job, because the articles are so many.
And its not just the articles depicting geese as "pests," but most of the public comments.
Whatever people might actually care about the geese, they are strangely absent from most article comment sites.
But, those who hate geese are seemingly everywhere and extremely vile in their commentaries: "Shoot 'em, cook 'em, gas 'em, send the immigrants back to Canada."
Yes, this cause is quite hopeless and I realize the seeming inability to change it.
Only, I don't feel very "serene" about that at all.
Walking home from Central Park last night after another disappointing experience of "no geese" at Harlem Meer, (though at least the ducks were back to their normal behavior) I thought about the future:
I don't believe the geese will be allowed to go extinct.
When it is finally realized how their population has been decimated, "wildlife biologists" and other "experts" will again arrange to "restore" the Canada goose population for the simple reason they are so prized by hunters and represent hunting revenues.
Short term restrictions will be placed on goose hunting or in worse case scenario, remaining geese will be captured, wings clipped, captively bred and later released to rural areas as hunting targets.
This is of course what was done in the last century when the geese tottered on the brink of extinction due to over-hunting and destruction of habitat.
But, of course wildlife biologists didn't figure on the geese's adaptability to urban areas and public parks, nor did they apparently figure that geese hatched in this country would have no instinct to "migrate" to places far north.
So, a "resident" population of Canada geese was established in this country.
A "resident" population that we now deem "nuisance, pests, invaders and airline terrorists." A resident population that we need to "get rid of."
I believe that all the current harassment, hunting and extermination campaigns on resident Canada geese (i.e "war") will eventually be "successful and victorious" and the birds will ultimately be, like in the last century, tottering on the brink of extinction.
(Our nation has a penchant for easily getting into wars, but not knowing how to get out of or end them.)
We will then return to "plan B" -- but this time with a difference.
In order to discourage geese from "residing" in public parks and golf courses, real grass can be replaced by fake, plastic grass (i.e. astro turf.)
That should go well with the rest of urban society with its cement buildings, concrete pavements and glass structures.
While we are at it, real trees can be replaced by fake, wind-proof and snow-proof trees.
Sometimes real trees kill people or damage homes.
AG of USDA said he "would cut down all the trees" were it his decision to make, so perhaps we are not actually too far from this plan despite our Mayor's desire to "plant a million trees."
(Perhaps the next Mayor of NYC can chop all the trees down following the next human fatality.)
Meanwhile, the geese released to rural areas can be shot and hunted down almost as fast as they can breed.
Ah, such a perfect world!
The only question is, why is everyone then on "anti-depressants" or a myriad of other drugs and "medications" for mostly psychosomatic illnesses? Why is everyone singing like the Ramones; "I Need to be Sedated."?
Ah, back to the special prayer from AA!
Lord, grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change......"
Perhaps though that is the problem.
We are too "serene."
Take your "serenity" and shove it.
Life was never about "serenity and happiness."
Its about fighting for what you believe is important and what is right.
Hopeless or not, the battles continue....... PCA
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18 endangered Bengal Tigers, 17 lions and numerous wolves and bears taken down in a hail of bullets after their "owner" committed suicide and released all his captive prisoners to what was surely a whole scale execution.
Authorities can partially and rightfully say they "had no choice" yesterday other than to shoot to kill almost all of the abused and panicked animals in order to protect the human community.
But, for sure, there were many "choices" along the deadly path of what ultimately turned out to be a shameful and despicable slaughter.
It begins with the trafficking of endangered wildlife from remote parts of the world from the wilds of Africa to the jungles of Asia to be held prisoner as "pets" here. Usually, the mothers are shot to get to the babies and then the captured infant animals are sent on their hell journey to this country. All for money and profit.
The "exotic pets" trade is a multi-billion dollar business in this country.
But, it seems few care what happens to these exotic animals once they are sold over the Internet or in stores to people who, for the most part, have neither the financial means nor the education to properly raise and care for them.
How did this couple have 58 exotic animals on their land? Since when were Ohio farms deemed suitable habitat for lions, tigers, wolves and bears?
What about the charges of animal cruelty?
Horses left to starve and then fed to lions and tigers. Numerous complaints of abuse, cruelty and irresponsibility. The owner arrested for guns and weapons possession. Who was caring for all these captive wild animals while the owner was in jail?
Were all these circumstances not a "red flag" to ANYONE?
Where was the local SPCA, Columbus Zoo or even elected officials while all this was going on?
What good are animal cruelty laws if no one enforces them? Are they merely window dressing on law books?
These pitiful and unfortunate animals should have been removed from this abuse and neglect a long time ago.
But, for some inexplicable reason they were not. Instead, according to one news source, the owner and his wife were ordered to "find homes for the animals" some months back.
But, one doesn't simply put an ad in the local Pennymart for adoption of lions, tigers, wolves and bears, nor conduct "wild pet" adoptions out of the local Petco or Petsmart.
(On a personal level, I have learned how hard it is to find a "home" for a flightless, domestic duck in a public park. Tens of thousands of pet cats and dogs are destroyed every day because "homes" cannot be found for them.)
But, somehow, these misguided or even mentally disturbed people were expected to magically "find homes" for dozens of big cats, wolves and bears.
The owner, obviously over his head and desperate simply elected instead to put a bullet in his head yesterday and open all the cages as apparently to his way of thinking, there was no other way out.
That seems to show a complete and utter failure of not just those agencies supposedly in charge of "animal welfare" but those also having to do with human welfare and mental health.
For months, I have been writing in this journal how animals like peaceful geese are not safe from human tyranny in the normal sanctuary of public parks.
But, nor are animals safe from human exploitation, abuse and slaughter in the remote areas of the world such as African deserts or Asian jungles.
That endangered species like Bengal tigers had to go down yesterday in a hail of bullets on Ohio farmlands is to the utter shame of all of us.
Like the roundups and massacres of thousands of Canada geese in NYC urban parks, this carnage too, was totally preventable through insight and responsibility.
Somewhere, sometime, we need to draw the lines on what can be done to animals for the sakes of human whim, greed and selfishness.
Until then, the terms, "animal protection and welfare," as well as true justice and peace are empty and meaningless phrases. -- PCA
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