Restoration -- In Troubled Times, Seek the Geese

(Photo:  Mama, Papa and their gaggle last night as I prepared to leave. )

 

Dark and troubling times over the past couple of weeks.

 

First, there was the roundup and massacre of at least 1200 gentle souls from New York City parks and a national wildlife refuge last week (though if one follows TV news or the New York Times, such shameful and violent event never occurred).

 

And then there was the shocking news over the past two days of 12 people gunned down in a Colorado movie theater and 58 others injured. 

 

The latter, due to its sheer horror and implications to humans has rightfully dominated the news in all media sources.

 

We wonder how such mayhem and violence occurs?

 

We say to ourselves when considering the suffering or death to human victims, "There, but for the grace of God go I or the ones I love."

 

Life can be so fragile and death so random and undeserved.

 

Like everyone else,  I was shocked and despaired to learn of human massacre that occurred in a public setting.

 

What propels one human being to want to wreak so much havoc, brutality and death to others?

 

It seems apparent that the perpetrators of such crimes do not see their victims as humans or individuals, but rather as objects that for whatever twisted, internal reason need to be destroyed.

 

Whatever rage or frustration churning inside, eventually seeks outlet and "expression" through violent means that result in great destruction of life.

 

What is truly frightening is that people suffering serious and dangerous mental disorder are able to walk into a store and purchase high powered weapons that can cause spectacular destruction within mere minutes.

 

One cannot know where and when such deranged personality can suddenly erupt. It could be a school, a work place, a shopping mall, a movie theater --  or even a public park. 

 

Anywhere, it seems there are people.

 

Watching some of this horror unfold last night, I felt very depressed and overwhelmed with the senselessness and tragedy of it all.  Lives lost and lives that will never be the same due to this one event and one very disturbed individual.

 

One has to wonder, how many more walking "time bombs" are actually out there?

 

This is tragically not the first time we have learned of such happenings and it surely won't be the last.

 

It was almost enough to make one not want to leave the "safe" confines of home last night.

 

But, eventually I pulled myself away from looking at  victims and accounts of a human train wreck and headed to Central Park with my two dogs in order to find "my" geese again and some sense of normalcy -- or something.

 

I felt strangely tired, depleted and enervated -- almost as if I had personally lost a daughter, son or lover in the carnage.

 

But, the unexpected coolness and crispness of a rainy summer evening.in New York City had a strange way of restoring some spark of energy.

 

There were very few people in the park, reminding me of the quiet and solace of typical winter evenings.  A jogger here and there, but for the most part, the park seeming to slumber in peace, inactivity and restoration.

 

It was completely dark by the time I arrived to the Boat Lake.  I figured the geese would be hunkered down for the evening on the small island "home rock" in the water and a part of me questioned if I should disturb them at all or even let them know I am there?

 

But, selfish needs prevailed. 

 

As expected, from the Rambles, I could make out dark goose forms silhouetted against the bright Manhattan lights in the background.    The geese were quietly resting on their home rock.

 

But selfishly, I looked across the blackened lake, called out to them and clapped my hands.

 

And almost immediately, I could see two geese descending the rock and begin to swim across the lake in my direction.

 

I then moved to the other rock jutting out from the Rambles where typically the geese come to greet.  I secured my two dogs to a small fence where they sat down to relax and then moved further on the rock and sat down and waited.....

 

Sure enough, the two geese arrived and began to waddle on to the rock.

 

I could immediately recognize (by his limp), the lead goose was "Papa" followed closely behind by one of his grown sons.

 

Whether hungry or not, Papa is always the first goose to come and greet.

 

Papa's son immediately walked up and took some treat from my hand. But, Papa always cautious and seceding to his loved ones,  remained a couple of steps behind and nonchalantly scooped up a few stray sunflower seeds from the ground almost as if to placate me.

 

Within a few minutes, the rest of Papa's family (and gaggle) began to arrive. And as usual, Mama goose was tagging behind the rest in her slow, piddling way.  Mama came with two other geese who I am guessing to be the daughters of the family.

 

All in all, there were 8 geese last night.  Mama, Papa, their four grown kids and two of the three unrelated "siblings" who have stayed with them through the molt.   I am not sure where goose #9 was last night.  But, there has always been one goose both this year and last who occasionally strays from the group.  It's possible #9 remained on the home rock or was wandering somewhere on the lake. A "rebel" so to speak in every gaggle.  Then again, over the summer, Mama goose has sometimes taken "break time" from the rest of the gaggle.

 

It seems in the goose world (like the human world) "family reunions" can sometimes get a bit tiring or stressful.

 

But, all of Papa's gaggle were quite relaxed last night, including Mama.  She confidently waddled up to me and gently scooped the offered sunflower seeds from my hand. Mama, like "Brad" (the Rouen duck at Harlem Meer) particularly loves black oiled sunflower seeds.

 

I am guessing Papa's family was particularly relaxed last night because Buster, Bonnie and their six goslings (i.e. "brats") were not around.  "The bad family" as I and another woman jokingly call them must have filled their bellies earlier and were probably resting further down on the lake.

 

It was really nice to once again, have some peaceful, uninterrupted time with Papa, Mama and their mostly peaceful clan. -- "The good family" so to speak.

 

Sitting on the rock with them last night even long after the sunflower seeds were gone, was, for me a kind of restoration.

 

Slowly, I could feel a sense of energy, optimism and joy returning to my body and spirit as the troubles and strife of the outside world melted away to nothingness.

 

I don't know if the geese somehow "sensed" I needed them last night or whether they were simply content to hang out on the rock with me as if I was a member of the family.  But the experience was incredibly uplifting.

 

Though the Rambles can be dark, quiet and a bit spooky at night, I personally felt very safe and protected by both two dogs and a gaggle of eight geese standing on "sentry." 

 

Jack the Ripper could show up and I believe I would be well protected from any possible harm.

 

I have no idea exactly how long we were all together, but eventually I picked myself up reluctantly to leave.

 

It occurred to me that if I ever find myself without a home, I would always have one with Papa and Mama whether or not the rest of the family was around during the molt. (Of course, I am not sure how Central Park would feel about that, but that is another matter.)

 

It is a very comfortable feeling.

 

As I scooped my two dogs to leave, I waved and said "goodnight" to Papa, Mama and the clan.   I could swear they all looked back to me and in their silent way, bade the same.

 

I imagine that some time after I left, they too, returned to their home rock as their "work" was done for the night.

 

Walking home by way of the Reservoir, I surprisingly saw the two gaggles of geese who have stayed there through the molt.

 

Rather than playing "hide and seek" last night, (as they usually do)  they too, swam over to greet me and quietly chill for a while.

 

Call me crazy or delusional, but I honestly believe that geese have some inner instinctual way of sensing when we humans are troubled over something and "need" them. 

 

They seem to bring with them some magical spirits for restoring a sense of peace and balance. --- Just like they did on the night of 9-11 so many years ago.

 

I finally arrived home with my dogs just in time to catch the 11 PM news which of course was replete with all the horrors, questions and tragedy of the recent human massacre.

 

But, I also thought of the other massacre occurring last week that garnered virtually no media reporting or acknowledgement.

 

What do we really kill when annihilating souls so gentle and restoring of all that is good in the world?

 

Odd and ironic to have so much brutality and violence on the heels of one another over the span of less than a couple of weeks.

 

I could only be grateful that at least in my little world, beauty, kindness and spiritual restoration still remain and still prevail.   -- PCA

 

 

                                                          **********

 

The Loss of Tenderness, Mercy and Refuge

We all awoke to the news today of 12 people shot to death and 38 others wounded at a movie premiere of the action thriller, "The Dark Knight" in Aurora, Colorado.

 

The 24-year-old gunman of the movie theater attack was arrested.  

 

But it will be a long time, if ever, we understand the motivations and causes behind such random and unspeakable violence and crime.  Its doubtful the disturbed perpetrator himself understands or has any insight into what exactly propelled him into such mayhem, desperation and mass murder.

 

Violence, bullying, crime and death seem to be words ingrained into our culture and daily language.

 

They are subjects of many (or most) movies and TV shows.  They are usually the headliners of nightly news broadcasts.

 

When we are not focused on the violence, wars and crimes of the day, we are typically obsessed with exercise, food, health, "staying young," looking good, "having fun," celebrity oggling,  making money, "beating the competition"  and being the "strongest, mightiest and toughest" we can be.

 

There seems to be a relentless search for dominance and control.

 

And yet, even if achieved, are these formulas for joy, happiness and peace of mind?

 

The more you "control," the more you have to control.  And even if you manage to obtain some kind of "dominance" in a chosen field of professional or hobby endeavor, there is the stress of trying to maintain it.  There is, after all, always someone coming down the pike who can be smarter, more talented, younger, fitter, or stronger than you who can topple you in a New York minute.

 

As for control, that seems more illusion than anything else.  Just when you think you have mastered "control" over almost every aspect in your life, you could find yourself sitting in a movie theater one evening and boom, it is suddenly over in the blink of an eye.

 

When learning of the movie theater killings today, my initial sense was similar to that when learning of the New York City goose massacres last week.

 

Loss.   A profound sense of loss and mourning.

 

Day by day, little by little, we seems to be losing something.

 

But what exactly is that "something" putting aside actual and physical body counts of animals or people?

 

In sharing a few comments with others on a goose facebook page this morning, I groped for the word that best matched what was felt being lost and one word suddenly popped into my head.

 

A word rarely spoken or heard these days.  A word idealized and practiced even less.

 

"Tenderness."

 

Tenderness is what best describes my feelings when being around geese in Central Park each evening.  Tenderness, innocence, peace, freedom and a certain kind of mercy for the plight of these very maligned animals, who, in New York City and elsewhere have been endlessly harassed, persecuted and killed as if they mattered for nothing -- certainly to the point "resident geese" will eventually become extinct in New York City.

 

The main reason for these killings is a sense of "control."  Control over the skies, water, land, grass or "salt marshes."

 

When did we ever get the idea that it is necessary to dominate and "control" all of these things -- including nature itself?

 

Aren't geese a part of nature?

 

Another woman on the goose Facebook page described how she no longer sees geese "flyovers" over her Brooklyn home each morning and evening as she used to, a sight she says used to bring a sense of joy to her.  Said the writer:

 

" I truly believe that since they "removed" , well ok, SLAUGHTERED, these beautiful birds, they also slaughtered my joy as they no longer fly over my house....an unspeakable joy that has left me incredibly sad....and not just me but my neighbors as well. I feel my property value has gone down, since that was the best part of living here. To see it every morning and evening, like clockwork. I've been incredibly sad since this first happened in 2010."

 

Though not saying in actual words, the writer seems to feel a sense of loss and perhaps emptiness, where once life had been so freely celebrating flight across the skies.

 

I fear the same will eventually happen in and over Central Park though as noted throughout this journal, we still have a few dozen resident geese eking out survival at New York City's premier park.

 

So far, Central Park's geese have not been targeted for a USDA "cull."  But, I wonder for how long that will remain?   And even if CP's geese are not actually rounded up one day and gassed (or slaughtered) will harassment eventually send them to one of the targeted locations (as probably occurred to the geese from Prospect Park over the past two years) or will we eventually lose them to attrition? 

 

Like the writer of the posted comment, I feel the same sense of loss when going to Harlem Meer over the past few months.  Without geese, there is a certain void and emptiness in the location despite the fact that a couple of dozen ducks still remain.

 

I love the quirkiness and moxie of the ducks, but I miss the tenderness and sense of innocence and dignity that the geese so engendered.  Harlem Meer is simply not the same without the geese.

 

Fortunately, I have only to go to the Boat Lake or Reservoir to still see "my" geese, but I  wonder -- and fear how long that will remain?

 

Day by day, little by little.

 

Certain words in the English language rarely used, emulated or practiced almost to the point of disappearing from modern communications.

 

And the animal perhaps most reflective and symbolic of those words, little by little being systematically destroyed and also vanishing.

 

In all our mad and endless searches for control, dominance, strength, youth, vitality, and "winning" will we one day wake up to find we lost something valuable and precious along the way?

 

Or rather, that we systematically destroyed it?  

 

Surely, neither tenderness nor mercy were to be found anywhere at a certain Colorado movie theater last night.

 

Nor were they to be found at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge last week -- a place that was ultimately anything but a "refuge."

 

Will "refuge" too, disappear from our language one day?  

 

That too, was not to be found last night.  -- PCA

 

 

 

                                                                 *******

 

 

 

New York City Media to Geese and Public: "Drop Dead"

Photo: Sign from Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. "Leave No Trace."

Same story, different victims:

 

News today out of Davis, California where citizens stood up at City Council hearings to express outrage over the killing of a coyote family near a golf course by USDA "Wildlife Services".:

 

http://www.standard.net/stories/2012/07/18/city-objects-coyote-killings-feds

 

Save Davis Coyotes: Facebook Group Forms & City Looks Forward After Five Coyot

 

Members of the council then voted to end the contract with USDA.

 

Once again we have a situation where someone (in this case, a golf course) makes a call to USDA to complain about animals and like "Johnny on the spot," USDA is out with their expert swat teams, "takes care of the problem" and then sends a bill to the taxpayers of the community.

 

Only in Davis, many citizens were not happy paying the bill for what really was a federal agency acting (once again) like a rogue private extermination company and secretly killing animals that people in the community regarded and actually wanted protected.

 

Very similar to the situation in New York City and other areas of the country where thousands of geese have been killed at the hands of USDA "Wildlife Services"  with citizens not learning of the massacres until after they occur (if indeed they are informed at all).

 

Only in New York City, the USDA is much more entrenched and a virtual "block" on the goose killing story seems to have been successfully pulled off as none of the major press reported on the massacre of 751 geese from Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (and other areas) last week.

 

Those who rely on the New York Times as their major news source  would believe that only 400 geese were rounded up from New York City this year, a number far "down" from last year.

  

Again, Numbers Are Down in Annual Goose Roundup - NYTimes.com

 

The New York Times failed to report at all, the roundup and killing of 751 geese from a national wildlife refuge last week -- a number that brings up this year's goose cull to well over a thousand and more like 1400 than the "400" quoted in the Times article.  

 

This is very strange considering it was the New York Times who "broke" the story of the goose roundup at Prospect Park in 2010 -- a story that later went national and caused much embarrassment to the leaders of New York City, the USDA and the city itself.

 

Though it cannot be proven, it appears that someone very high and very powerful "got" to the New York Times this year (and other major media) with probably one phone call:

 

 "Squelch the story."

 

The reality is that had 1,000 people showed up the other day to protest the NYC goose killings this year in front of Senator Gillibrand's office, it is highly unlikely the Times or other major media would have covered it. 

 

How could they, after all, cover a protest against an issue and happening that they failed to report in the first place?

 

The story of goose killings in New York City this year is one that was mostly silenced in the major press -- just like the manner and method by which the geese actually died.  More than a week later, we still don't know.  We have three different media explanations.

 

Federal government slaughter of geese and coyotes are remarkably similar.

 

In both cases, the killings are mostly secret and conducted with little or no public input (though government slaughter of coyotes has been occurring much longer).

 

In both cases the government (or specifically, USDA Wildlife Services) acts more like a private extermination company than a governmental agency by usually responding to "complaints" from private individuals or property owners.  --- Not something the writers of the Constitution had in mind when formulating the roles for federal government.

 

In both cases, the names of the guilty (i.e. "complainants" ) are kept hidden and secret supposedly for reasons of "protection."

 

And in both cases, the USDA has seemingly perfected methods for roundup and killings with the expertise and expediency of a pathological serial killer.

 

Few dare to question and even fewer dare to report. 

 

But, at some point people, politicians and some gutsy reporters are going to start to ask questions, investigate and connect dots.

 

That is already happening in California with the publication of the Sacrament Bee's investigative series on USDA Wildlife Services

Wildlife investigation - The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, California and even the reporting of the latest coyote incident also from California.

 

We need some of this intellectual curiosity and standard for full and accurate reporting to spread to New York City where even a week following the goose slaughters we are still in the grips of a seeming media blackout on the story.

 

We don't even know how our geese died.

 

It is apparent in New York City that our media is acting as a mouthpiece for government, rather than a watchdog. 

 

As noted, the little media that actually reported on the wildlife refuge goose slaughter mostly ran verbatim, press releases either from Gillibrand's office or the USDA.

 

The citizens of New York City deserve better.

 

At the very least, we deserve, like the people of California, the truth.

 

The truth, not of what caused Tom Cruise's divorce, but what is actually happening to the wildlife in our parks and wildlife "refuges."

 

We are supposedly one of the greatest cities in the world with one of the most respected national newspapers.

 

The one that publishes "Only the news that fit's to print."

 

But, slaughter on a wildlife refuge was apparently news "not fit to print?"  

 

Readers of the New York Times are not even aware that a slaughter of 751 geese on a national wildlife refuge in New York City occurred at all.

 

But, the citizens in California are aware of the killing of one family of coyotes near a golf course.

 

New York City media and Federal Government to the citizens (and geese) of New York City: 

 

"Drop dead.  We will tell you about Cruise, but not what is happening in your own back yard -- or wildlife "refuge."   -- PCA

 

 

                                                             ***********  

 

"How Did the Geese Die?"

The temperature in New York City sizzled yesterday at 96 degrees when more than 70 determined people took to the streets to protest Senator Gillibrand's called for massacre of 751 geese from Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge last week.

 

Despite the blaring sun, the mood was somber as protesters stood in silence and mourning with graphic signs to communicate the reasons for their angst and vigil.

 

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.340983689313046.87040.114425621968855&type=1

 

One small boy held a sign asking plaintively, "Why Did You Kill My Friends?"

 

A young woman held a sign proclaiming, "Painfully Gassing Geese is NOT Euthanasia."

 

A line almost a block long of protesters in front of a Senator's office with photos and graphic signs should have been enough to garner media attention.

 

But, as usual during animal cruelty protests, most of the press was conspicuously absent.

 

However, to this point, one media outlet has reported on the protest for the geese:

 

New Yorkers Protest Gillibrand's Goose Removal | New York City | United States

 

Unfortunately, once again, we have a media report, (this time from the Epoch Times) that  raises more questions than it answers.

 

The journalist writes for example, "The USDA then used a combination of "lethal and nonlethal methods" to remove the Canada geese from Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Monday, July 9, according to a statement from Gillibrand's office."  (Emphasis supplied.)

 

One wonders what "non-lethal" measures Gillibrand's office is referring to as according to Martin Lowney of the USDA, all the geese rounded up are now dead. That is not "non-lethal removal" by any twisting of facts or stretch of imagination.  

 

Is this just one more example of the press being made to look foolish, quoting one thing and then contradicting that information in a later paragraph?

 

Later in the same article:  "Roughly 700 of the geese were set to be euthanized. A USDA spokeswoman told CBS News that the captured geese would be slaughtered upstate, and the meat would be donated to food pantries."   (Emphasis supplied.) 

 

Here we have "euthanized" and "slaughtered" practically used in the same sentence despite their almost opposite meanings.

 

Meanwhile, other articles reporting on the same issue, stated that the captured geese were "gassed."

 

So far in less than a week, we have three media explanations for how the geese died:  "Slaughter, gassing and euthanasia."  (Though presuming one of the other two explanations are correct, the term "euthanized" is obviously misapplied and wrong.)

 

Are these all examples of bad journalism?  -- Failures to ask questions, get the story right, understand word meanings or quote correctly their sources of information?

 

Or, are they really something else? --  For example, informational sources having difficulty keeping their stories and their lies straight?

 

It might be reasonable to expect that some journalists are rushed when doing a story and being human, might be inclined to error.

 

But, ALL of them?  -- Including a journalist from The New York Times?

 

That doesn't make sense.

 

Gillibrand's office is simply wrong (and apparently lying) when claiming any of the geese rounded up last week were "removed non-lethally."

 

That is absolutely false.

 

Gillibrand's office is also lying when repeatedly telling reporters geese were "euthanized."

 

This is a particularly egregious lie, knowing the aggressive and inescapable manner with which the flightless geese were rounded up, crammed into small crates, trucked long distance in the heat and killed by undetermined process..

 

There was nothing either "merciful" or "good" about the deaths these animals were subjected to.  Of that much we can be certain.

 

Last week in a phone conversation, New York State Director of USDA Wildlife Services, Martin Lowney told me he did "not know" precisely how the geese died.

 

"They are all food now. That is all you need to know." Lowney told me repeatedly in response to the question. (i.e.They are all dead which indicated none of the geese were removed "non-lethally" as per Gillibrand's false claim.)

 

But, it would be easy for the State Director of Wildlife Services to determine how geese actually died by calling the "processing plant" the geese were sent.

 

Then again, according to USDA spokesperson, Carol Bannerman, some of the geese were delivered live to food banks (which, if true, would raise questions pertaining to testing of slaughtered or gassed geese for human consumption).

 

The bottom line is that although the roundups are supposedly over, we still have no idea how the 751 geese rounded up from Jamaica Bay and other city locations over the past two weeks actually died.

 

And apparently, neither does the media.

 

Journalists are instead being made to appear like incompetent and bungling fools.

 

For these reasons and more, I have chosen to post as the lead photo to this blog entry, the picture of the young woman who in silence yesterday proclaimed, "Painfully Gassing Geese is NOT Euthanasia."

 

For that matter, neither is slaughter. -- PCA

 

 

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

 

 

 

Holding Vigil and Protesting New York City Goose Slaughter

Much breaking news today.  

 

Please read the press releases below and attend today's vigil and protest in mourning for the 1400 geese (at least) who have died as sacrificial lambs and political pawns at the hands of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and USDA "Wildlife Services."

 

http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=f30b9b8b6b96841f3dcf76c40&id=ccc9c02258 (From Goosewatch.)

 

http://www.humanesociety.org/news/news/2012/07/new-york-city-canada-geese-071612.html  (From HSUS)

 

http://www.friendsofanimals.org/news/2012/july/751-geese-slaughtere.html (From Friends of Animals).

 

Although the Friends of Animals press release calls for a "loud" and spirited protest, it has since been decided that a solemn event and "silent" protest is more appropriate and effective in communicating our sense of mourning and loss over our victimized New York City geese.

 

Black arm bands would probably be a good idea, though I am personally not organizing the rally and vigil. 

 

Once again the details: 

 

DATE and TIME --Tuesday, July 17 -- 12:30 to 1:30 PM. 

LOCATION -- 780 Third Ave (between 48 and 49th Street in Manhattan.)  (Senator Gillibrand's office).

 

 

Please bring sign if possible, preferably with photo(s).  Avoid incendiary terms or language.  If possible, stress that slaughtering and gassing are not "euthanasia" and that Wildlife "Refuges" should be just that -- safe sanctuary for wildlife of which Canada geese are a integral part.

 

It is hoped and anticipated that with a decent showing of people to protest the carnage and massacre that occurred at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge last Monday (and other city locations) media will finally wake up and report the story fully and accurately.

 

But, much will depend upon the kind of showing we get.

 

Please make plans to attend this important and vital event today.  It will not be pleasant due to extreme heat.  

 

But, if we think it uncomfortable for us, let us consider the suffering of more than 1400  terrorized geese forced to endure heat and crowding in crammed crates and hot trucks over the past two weeks on their way to unjustified and brutally cruel death. 

 

Our city wildlife are not political pawns for ambitious, ruthless politicians and a federal agency acting more like a private extermination company for hire than the federal watchdog intended by the writers of the Constitution.  -- PCA

 

 

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

 

 

The Geese Who Got Away -- Glimmers of Hope

(Photo:  A goose who was able to use early power of wing to escape USDA roundup at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge on July 9th. Photo courtesy of Gateway National Recreation Area and Goosewatch.) 

 

If we can believe USDA, the summer goose roundups for 2012 are over.

 

They leave (literally) in their wake at least 1,200 gassed and/or slaughtered geese.

 

It is not clear why 280 photos from the roundup were shared with  (27) GooseWatch NYC from Gateway National Recreation Area, but perhaps the reasons don't matter.

 

The point is we have them and thus there is visual record of the true horrors that occurred at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge last Monday.  Below are just 20 photos from the roundup:

 

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.339851376092944.86666.114425621968855&type=1.

 

Jamaica Bay "Wildlife Refuge" is actually a 9,000 acre former landfill that although claims are touted for its multi-million dollar "restoration" could not even serve as "refuge" for 751 hapless geese who, while seeking safety during the molt, found brutality and death instead.

 

It is likely that many of the doomed geese were chased and harassed out of city locations like Prospect Park in Brooklyn (which has had no geese since the beginning of the molt) but in the end, there was no safe place for them.

 

The number of geese rounded up and killed this summer will be at least double the figure from last year (575) and will probably exceed even those from 2009 and 2010.

 

Moreover, it is almost certain that the geese rounded up this year suffered even more than those from the past several years. 

 

Crammed 5 to 6 to small turkey crates, the geese were trucked long distance "upstate" to die slow, suffocating deaths in gas chambers (if we are to believe most of the media reports that wrongly report this kind of death as "euthanasia.")

 

While there are many agencies and individuals responsible for the indefensible carnage, the person's whose face most bears the brand for goose massacre is Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.  (D) NY. Even more so incredibly than the USDA who actually carried out the roundups and delivered the geese to their deaths.

 

But, it was Gillibrand who both crusaded for the extermination and celebrated it.

 

Putting aside personal feelings that there is something seriously wrong with someone who would demand the slaughter of wildlife and self-congratulate for them, one has to concede that Gillibrand is virtually a shoe-in for re-election this November.

 

Money, strong political backing and New York being a mostly democratic state, pretty much insure that Gillibrand will keep her senate seat.

 

But, if that be the case, it is a very unfortunate one.

 

Because it will show that there is no political price for despicable actions like these that result in large scale suffering and destruction to innocent wildlife.

 

This is precisely why politicians and other leaders do not take the concerns of animal advocates and protectionists seriously.   Because they know there is no political consequence for not only ignoring the concerns, but in fact, torpedoing them.  

 

Torpedoing is exactly what Gillibrand did not only to geese, but to every New Yorker who cares anything about justice to animals and prevention of animal suffering.

 

Nevertheless, though a time of despair, shock and seeming "failure" for us who fought so long and hard to save NYC geese, there are small glimmers of hope:

 

*  Geese were not targeted in Central Park, Inwood Park and other city park locations where they were vigilantly monitored each morning by dedicated civilians and members of Goosewatch for almost a month.  These now very alive geese represent small victory and glimmers of hope.  They are among the geese who "got away."

 

*  A few months ago, the Sacramento Bee published a series of articles and an Editorial exposing a federal agency, (USDA Wildlife Services) that has basically run amok:

 

Wildlife investigation - The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, California

 

Editorial: Put pressure on Wildlife Services - Editorials - The Sacramento Bee

 

The series of reports did not include anything about New York City goose roundups.  But, perhaps these are grounds for a follow-up investigation by either the guys at the Bee or some other gutsy news agency. Certainly, there are many things that seem "strange" and worth investigating, particularly regarding the roundups at Jamaica Bay.

 

Among them:

 

Although more than a dozen newspapers reported the Jamaica Bay goose roundups, there were conflicting accounts of what ultimately happened to the geese. Some media reported the geese as "gassed."  Others reported slaughter.  Most reported the geese as "euthanized" (which as noted is a total misapplication of the word to these circumstances).    One can only surmise from the conflicting accounts that either the media was lazy and incompetent in reporting the story.  Or, members of the press were misled or even lied to by the sources they relied upon for information -- primarily, Gillibrand and the USDA.

 

Perhaps the worst example of the press misreporting or under-reporting facts is the New York Times which reported in a June 28th article by Andy Newman that the USDA "goal" for goose roundups in NYC parks this summer was "400." 

 

Again, Numbers Are Down in Annual Goose Roundup - NYTimes.com

 

Putting aside the nuance of "parks" vs. "Wildlife Refuge," the story was misleading and deceptive.    This is especially strange in light of the fact that the Times failed to report the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge roundup at all and yet it was the first newspaper to break the story of the goose roundup at Prospect Park in 2010.  -- A story that ultimately went national in media coverage.

 

The roundup and slaughter of 751 geese at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge was a far bigger and newsworthy event than the 368 geese rounded up from Prospect Park in 2010. 

 

What is the real reason for the New York Times to both, under-report and mislead in the coverage of the 2012 NYC goose roundups?   One has to wonder if someone of power "got" to the NY Times?

 

These are the kinds of questions that need to be investigated by a newspaper or media source worth its salt.

 

The fact that the Sacramento Bee has already broken some ground on USDA Wildlife Services represent glimmers of hope, but it is only a start.  One suspects the Bee merely peeled off the tip of the iceberg.

 

* But, perhaps the greatest glimmers of hope are those few geese who managed by sheer and early vitality of wing to escape the USDA assassins.

 

Among the 20 disturbing photos contained in the earlier link, there is one of a goose who was able to utilize power of wing to escape and fly into the sun breaking through cloud.

 

We too have to seek the little bit of sun breaking through dark and ominous cloud.  -- PCA

 

 

 

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Coin Tosses and Carnage at a Wildlife Refuge

According to Gateway National Recreation Spokesman, John Warren, "All the geese didn't cooperate" (with their executioners). 

Queens Tribune Deadline

The goose death count from Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge should have been 1,000 this past Monday. 

But, apparently some 250 of the lucky geese could fly --  unlike the 751 actual victims who still going through the molt, were incapable of escape.  

Life and death at Jamaica Bay Wildlife "Refuge" was apparently like coin tosses in No Country for Old Men which determined whether humans lived or died based upon a "heads or tails.".    

To this point, more than a dozen newspaper articles have been published "covering" the carnage at the refuge,  virtually all of which have simply run the press releases and assorted  euphemisms from Gillibrand and the USDA. 

A typical example is this piece from the Queens Chronicle:

Feds remove geese from Jamaica Bay - Queens Chronicle: Queenswide

I responded to this particular article with two comments, one of which apparently offended the Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper.

This is the controversial comment:  

"It appears that when journalists fail to do proper research and ask questions (such as "How were the geese killed?) they resort to using euphemisms such as the geese were "euthanized."

This conjures up images of a vet stroking a dying and beloved pet before injecting lethal solution that brings quick and merciful ending to suffering.

But, that is hardly the case with the 751 geese.

The geese were not suffering and they were not "mercifully put to sleep" as represented by the "good death" definition of "euthanasia."

In fact, neither the writer of this article nor apparenly top personnel at the USDA know how the geese died (or are saying),

Were they gassed? Were they slaughtered?

Different media reports different things. And when reporters don't know and apparently don't investigate, they fall back on the term, "euthanasia" which makes everyone feel good, but in fact, renders the word absolutely meaningless.

Since the misapplication of this term to refer to geese rounded up, stuffed 4 to 5 in crates and transported long distance from NYC in summer heat to be killed by non-vet personnel lacks credibility, we have to surmise that the rest of this article (such as the different excuses for the massacre) lacks truth and credibility and thus represents the author mostly reporting canned press releases by those responsible for this carnage as "news."

This week has been a sad one for the 751 geese who sought safety at a wildlife refuge through the summer molt, but instead encountered cruelty and death.

But, it is even a sadder one for the principles of "accuracy in media" and investigative journalism.

Edward R, Murrow must be rolling in his grave."

Shortly after posting the above comment, I received a strange email from the Editor-in-Chief of this newspaper telling me, "Our understanding is the geese were gassed.  The editor who wrote this story wrote about eight other ones this week.....Give it a rest.    On the other hand, if you want this post or something like it to appear as a letter to the editor, resend it....." 

Stunned to receive the email, I thought about writing a "Letter to the Editor" as suggested, but elected instead to respond personally to the writer::

Dear Mr.XXXXXX,

With all due respect, whether the author had one or 20 articles to write in a week is not the point.

 

Accuracy in media reporting is.

 

"Understanding" is not actual fact. 

 

Other media sources indicated the geese were slaughtered.

 

But, whether slaughtered or gassed, neither are "euthanasia" as described in my post and defined in a dictionary. 

 

One cannot claim "euthanasia" without actually knowing how the animals died.  Such is to mislead and deceive. We know for a fact the 751 geese rounded up and killed were not suffering terminal disease or injury.

 

The newspaper should either print a correction (based upon faulty speculation) or actually investigate how the geese died in order to back up the claim.  If told by the USDA that the geese were gassed "according to UVMA guidelines for humane euthanasia," look up the actual UVMA guidelines that require waterfowl being gassed to be anesthetized before actual procedure. 

 

That could not be the case if the plan is to use the geese for "food."

 

In a conversation with Carol Bannerman of USDA last year, I was told that unanaesthetized geese being gassed "take from five minutes up to an hour" to die.

 

That is not "euthanasia" by any stretch of the imagination.

 

Instead of advising me to send a letter that you will obviously never publish, it is suggested that your paper either correct the misapplication of this word or have a "talk" with your editors and writers about accuracy in journalism. 

 

I stand 100% behind my original post and take personal offense to your ("give it a rest") insult of it.

 

Have a nice day,

 

Patty Adjamine,

Manhattan    (phone number)

 

Amazingly, the gentleman called on the phone some ten minutes later and admonished me for not writing a Letter to the Editor!  Before I could answer that "Give it a rest" didn't sound like a warm and fuzzy invitation, the call was cut short.

 

Not long after this fairly strange email and call exchange (there were actually more), I checked out the  (27) GooseWatch NYC  Facebook page to find more than 200 photos from Monday's unconscionable goose roundup:

 

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.343263462418916.79961.175344192544178&type=1

 

One can be sure the USDA agents were on their best behavior knowing they were being photographed.  (We had a report from an eyewitness who claimed seeing USDA workers grab geese by the necks and swing them around.  This was in New Jersey some years back.)

 

But, even with the awareness of being photographed, the photos are highly disturbing when considering the relatively small crates these wild and large 12 lb birds are crammed into.  Heads have to be bent and geese are literally crammed into the crates.  To those of us who actually know geese and their extreme sense of alertness and vigilance, the photos are more than distressing.

 

Perhaps to those deriving a paycheck from either conducting the roundup or finding various excuses to justify it, the photos are innocuous.

 

There are apparently no limits to the blunting of human spirit and ethics.

 

But, according to two different witnesses a Brant goose was observed the following day at the "Refuge" stumbling around with broken wings and legs.

 

It must have been one of the 250 geese who got away -- or "didn't cooperate" with its would-be executioners. 

 

But, even having won the coin toss, it seems some geese weren't so "lucky" after all. -- PCA

 

 

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