"Dazed and Confused"

(Photo:  "Late molters?"  Brad, a few mallards and the eight geese at the Meer yesterday. But, where are the rest?)

 

An old Led Zeppelin song comes to mind in trying to find the words to describe the last 36 hours.

 

The beautiful and peaceful visions of Sunday evening soon faded by the time I returned to Central Park the next evening.

 

The first sense of "something strange" was not seeing any geese at the Reservoir.

 

Where was the family of geese -- Mom, Dad and their three, mostly grown goslings?

 

What about the other five to seven geese  just seen the night before?

 

Although the setting sun was still shining brightly, I could not make out any birds on the water -- even in the distance.

 

After walking around 3/4 of the Reservoir, the only birds seen were a few straggly mallards clinging close to the embankment and hiding in the brush. 

 

Something very weird and very "off."

 

A bad feeling started to come over me.

 

But, there was nothing I could do for the moment.

 

Panicking, I started to walk quickly with my dogs to get to the boat lake where "my family" of ten geese had been since the early weeks in June.

 

But, even before making it through the little winding paths of the Rambles and looking at the rock where the family always is, I knew they would not be there.

 

The rock was empty -- as was the entire lake.

 

I could not believe what I was seeing......

 

Nothingness, everywhere......

 

Could they be hiding somewhere?   Is it possible the family could be flying now and left?

 

Did USDA come and round up all the geese of Central Park?

 

A feeling of nausea swept over me with the last thought......

 

Not wanting to believe the geese were really gone, I kept searching for them in the distance. 

 

But, there was nothing all around.....not even a duck or anemic wave on the water.  Just deathly quiet and stillness.

 

I stood there so long looking, that the sun had set and it was getting dark. 

 

A young man walked out of the shadows and along the path.

 

"Excuse me," I said.  "Have you walked around the entire lake?"

 

"Well, yes, as a matter of fact," he mumbled, apparently surprised by my seeming come on.

 

"Have you seen any geese?   You know what they are?  Kind of large, brown and white birds that are usually on the water?"

 

"Yes, I know what geese are.  But, no, I haven't seen any at all."

 

We then talked for a few minutes and I explained to the young man why I was asking. 

 

"The city is rounding up almost all the geese in our parks and killing them.  I am worried about the family of geese who have been here for the past month."

 

"That's unbelievable!" the young man replied, genuinely shocked.  "Why would they do that?  That's crazy.  The birds were here long before us!"

 

I then explained about the excuse of "airline safety" and what a crock it really is, as the young man raised his eyebrows in consternation and disbelief.

 

After promising me that he would call 311 to register a complaint, we then parted ways.  I wanted to stay a little longer just in case the geese showed up.

 

But, they didn't.   And eventually, I too, had to give up and leave.

 

But, just as I was about to turn away, I noticed one lone goose in the middle of the lake.

 

I motioned and called to the goose, but unlike all the other nights, this one did not come to me.

 

Rather, s/he remained completely motionless on the still, black water, almost as if to blend into it.

 

This was like some kind of nightmare -- especially compared to the beauty and mysticism of the previous night when I had six or seven happy geese eating from my hand!

 

What the hell happened?

 

But, just like the empty, barren water before me, I was not getting any answers -- only more questions.

 

I retraced my steps back to the Reservoir with the hope that the missing geese from earlier, might have magically turned up.

 

But, the Reservoir was as still, black and empty as the lake.

 

God, how could THIS BE?   Where could they have all gone?  It is too early for them to fly!

 

Once home, I shot off emails to some of my goose contact friends.

 

I was in a total panic.

 

One of them emailed back and advised me not to panic or jump to conclusions.  Its possible the geese were hiding for some reason.

 

In fact, a couple of people told me the same thing, one of them, saying,  "All the harassment can cause the geese to become unpredictable."

 

I realize they were trying to comfort and reassure me.

 

I tried to reassure myself:

 

"You have to go back in the morning and recheck.  You have to go to Harlem Meer.  If the geese are gone from there, too, then there is no doubt that Central Park has been hit by the feds."

 

Yesterday morning, I got up at 6 AM and headed out the door without my dogs.

 

In a hurry, I jumped on the subway up to 110th  Street. 

 

Even at that early hour, there were people walking dogs around the Meer or jogging.

 

When first arriving the lake appeared to be totally empty.....nothing on it.

 

Oh God, no.......

 

But, then I noticed a cluster of birds on the little sandy area to the East Side of the Meer.

 

And, there were geese!

 

I hurried over to the birds.

 

There in the front of the flock was Brad, along with a handful of mallards.

 

And right to the back of them and keeping sentry watch on the water and the flock, were the 8 wary geese.

 

Looking closely at the distrustful and skittish geese, I noticed that almost all of them are still molting.  Flight feathers only half grown in, some of the geese were busy working on and preening their feathers. 

 

I compared this image to the image of the "family" seen two nights before.  I remembered most of the geese from the lake looked sleek and full. --  Like they would soon be ready to fly. Several of them were even flapping their wings.

 

Could it be they molted sooner than the Harlem Meer geese and were already able to fly?

 

What about the geese at the Reservoir?

 

Surely the goslings were not ready to fly!

 

And why would ALL the geese take off at the same time?

 

None of it made any sense.

 

From the Meer, I hopped on a bus and got off at 84th Street to return to the Reservoir and the boat lake.

 

But, it was the same story as the night before:   NO geese on either watercourse.  Not even the lone goose seen the night before.  

 

Now, I had even more questions than the previous evening.

 

If USDA came, why would they round up geese at the Reservoir and Lake, but not Harlem Meer?  Did they simply run out of time?  Were there too many people at the Meer to witness a roundup?  

 

But, there are many early morning joggers on the Reservoir!

 

Questions, questions.  But, none of them with answers.

 

I had been walking around in the heat for almost 3 hours by the time I returned home just before 9 AM.

 

But, I was more confused than before I left.

 

Several bird experts told me the geese would not be ready to fly this soon.

 

But, looking back over this blog, it seems from the June entries, that the family left Turtle Pond around the first week in June.   That means they could have been molting for almost six weeks by now and potentially could be ready for flight. 

 

The Harlem Meer geese started molting later and are still in the process. 

 

The bottom line is, I don't know diddilly squat at this point.

 

But, am determined today to get some answers.  

 

Still, if I do find the geese back at the Reservoir and Lake today (which I doubt) I will personally ring their necks!  -- For playing a really hideous and mean game of "hide and seek" with me!

 

But, for the moment, I am a just a replay of the old Led Zep song:

 

"Dazed and Confused".......PCA

 

 

                                                            ***********

 

Moonlight Visions

If Saturday morning's encounter with humanity at Central Park was a tough slog, last night's interactions with those of my own species were infinitely much more pleasant -- though I can't say it was all good news for the birds.

 

When arriving to Turtle Pond with my dogs shortly before dusk, I was surprised to find a group of people engaged in highly animated conversation on the little pier overlooking the pond.

 

One of the women recognized and walked up to me.

 

"You'll never guess what happened here just a little while ago!" Kathy exclaimed, with an exasperated look on her face.

 

Not venturing to guess, I simply looked surprised and Kathy filled me in.

 

"Two guys were fishing here a little while ago.  They hooked a duckling by the neck!  They then pulled the ducking by the neck out of the water, took out the hook and threw her back in the water.   It was awful!  We had to get the cops to chase the guys away. In fact, the police are still over there," she added pointing in the direction of the Great Lawn.

 

"Oh my God, that is terrible!" I replied, feeling totally disgusted.  "Where is the duck?  Is she OK?"

 

"Well, she swam away and seems to be hiding.  We're not sure how she is doing.  It all happened so fast."

 

The other people on the deck verified Kathy's story.  Each one was more horrified than the other;  each one questioned why the fishing was allowed at Turtle Pond after decades of being banned in the small and heavily human congested location.  As its name implies, Turtle Pond is mostly filled with turtles. Ducks, egrets, herons and the occasionally Canada geese also live around the pond.

 

Wanting to add my voice to official complaint, I excused myself from the small group of nature lovers and hurried to catch up to the police before they left the area of the Great Lawn.

 

"Hi," I said, walking over to the cops with a half smile on my face. "I want to register a complaint about the fishing here at Turtle Pond,  along with the other folks."

 

The two youngish cops were very cordial and professional, but seemed somewhat perturbed about leaving important duties to attend to something like this. 

 

"Unfortunately, we cannot patrol these guys all the time," one of the cops said.  "All we could do is tell them to leave and not return here again on threat of a summons. But, we didn't have evidence of animal cruelty as they had already released the duck.  So far, no one's been able to find the duck.  Hopefully, its OK."

 

"You know, fishing has never been allowed here," I said. "Why are these guys coming here when they can fish everywhere else in the city and the park?"

 

"They're just lazy." the other policeman offered, matter of factly.

 

"Well, laziness is not an excuse for maiming wildlife!"

 

"You might try to attend one of the park's meetings and complain," one of the cops suggested. "Think they have 'em about once a month or so. Look it up on Central Park.com. Unfortunately, the only thing we could do with these guys is make them leave."

 

"Too bad you couldn't get rid of all of them," I smiled, while thanking the cops for the information and bidding good night.

 

I returned to Kathy and the other people and explained the suggestion about meetings and CentralPark.com.   But, when Kathy pulled up the site on her cell phone, there was nothing about public meetings.

 

"Listen, why don't we exchange phone numbers and try to be in touch when stuff like this happens?" I suggested.  "We need to start thinking about getting organized to get the fishing out of this area."

 

Kathy agreed and we traded phone numbers.

 

It was starting to get dark and I still wanted to get over to the lake to visit with my special family of geese. I said goodnight to the group of about six people and thanked them for looking out for the birds and other wildlife of Turtle Pond.   Without people like these, the park's wildlife would be in far more dire straits than it already is.

 

Walking towards the Central Park Lake, I was hoping no one would be on the rock formation where I like to spend time with my geese.  With a small bag of bird seed in my pocket, I didn't want a repeat of Saturday's incident at Harlem Meer. I was not in the mood for another battle scene.

 

But, a young, dark haired man was sitting on the rocks, listening to music.

 

Well, not to fret.  I still had to find the geese and hope they would come to me.

 

Sure enough, Mama, Papa, their five grown goslings from last year and the three hangers-on were all sitting quietly on their favorite rock in the middle of the lake (obviously, a very safe place for them, as no one can get to it.)

 

From a small area behind a fence in the Rambles, I stood and called out to them.

 

And within a minute, all the geese started leaving the rock, one by one and swimming towards my direction.

 

I then had to get over to the other rocks as that is the only place I can actually interact with the geese!

 

I really didn't give a damn about the young guy there at that point.  If he wanted to do battle with me over feeding treats to the geese, I was ready.

 

"Hi guys!  Here I am!  You're all looking so beautiful tonight!"  I motioned at the edge of the rock as the geese started climbing on, one by one, Papa being the first one to embark.

 

(OK, if the young fellow behind me thinks me totally nuts, that is fine, too!)

 

I sat down on the rocks as the goslings all came up to me nibbling the seed from my outstretched hand.  Papa stood further back and took on sentry duty for the group.  Mama joined the other geese in taking treats from my hand.

 

This little scene continued for some minutes with me occasionally correcting the more assertive geese.  "Come on!  You need to leave some for your Mama and siblings!"

 

I tossed some seed on the rock for the shyer or slower geese.  I wanted to be sure Papa got some.   But, it seemed most preferred to eat from my hand.

 

"Hm, for some reason, they like it better from my hand than on the ground," I said out loud, almost to myself.

 

"They seem to know you," the voice from behind me said with a slight Spanish accent.

 

"Oh yes!" I laughed. "They know me from last year when the Mama and Papa had their babies.  The babies are all grown up now.  This is actually a family of geese!"

 

The young man and I then talked for about ten minutes.  He was interested in learning more about the geese and I was only too happy to chat on about some of my favorite animals on the planet.

 

"They are so beautiful and sweet," the young man finally said. "I had no idea they were that gentle. Thank you for educating me."

 

"Yes, they are," I smiled.  "Very beautiful.  And thank you for listening."

 

And with that, the young man left and I was at last alone with the geese.

 

But, by that time, most of the seed was gone and the geese too were beginning to depart to return presumably to their safe night spots.

 

"Good night, guys!  God be with you," I murmured softly, waving my hand.

 

And as I watched the geese leisurely swimming in a straight line under the moonlight, I thought there are few scenes in life as beautiful and as peaceful as this one.

 

But, then the moment was interrupted by the sounds of women's voices walking behind me through the Rambles.

 

I thought it a bit strange for women to be wandering through the Rambles at night.  It is a very dark and wooded kind of area with many small, winding pathways.  Easy to get lost on.

 

Then, a few minutes later, the women returned and one of them asked if I knew how to get out of there?

 

I laughed.  "Sure.  Here, let me guide you.  I was just about to leave anyway with my dogs."

 

The six women were from Holland and visiting New York City.

 

We chatted and laughed while exiting the narrow and dark little paths.

 

"Hope you'll be around, if I ever get lost in Holland," I joked, while pointing them to nearest park exit.

 

I guess its a good thing I was there last night or they might still be wandering around the Rambles.

 

Returning home by way of the Reservoir, I could make out in the distance, forms of geese gliding gently upon the water, under the moonlight.

 

Few visions in life more beautiful than that one.  And I was lucky on this night to see it twice.

 

But, it is a vision, we have to fight to protect.

 

The incident involving the fisherman and the maimed duckling still playing in my head, I returned home and started a new and special Facebook Page for all the animals and birds of Central Park:

 

For the Love of Animals and Birds of Central Park (12)

 

Hopefully, Kathy and her friends find their way there.

 

If the fisherman can organize to take over our city park lakes, streams and ponds, its time we who love birds and nature started to "push back" for the sake of all the animals who try to survive in and on our city park watercourses.

 

We need to keep that vision of the geese and ducks peacefully gliding under the moonlight a reality.  -- PCA

 

 

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

 

"BrAdgelina," No More

(Photos:  "BrAdgelina" in more peaceful times.   Brad, yesterday alone with the geese at Harlem Meer.   A Commerant, next to a goose at the Meer yesterday.)

 

Angelina, the flightless Khaki Campbell duck and long time mate to Brad (a flightless Rhoen duck) mysteriously vanished from Harlem Meer two weeks ago.

 

I knew immediately Angelina was gone when seeing Brad alone and aimlessly wandering in the lake during the evening hours.  These two ducks were never separated at night in the few years I had known them.

 

At first, I tried lying to myself, that perhaps Angelina just wanted to rest that particular evening and that I should not panic.

 

But, I knew I would never see her again.

 

Since that terrible evening, I have been back to Meer at least a dozen times, both day and night and searched, but Angelina is long gone.  -- Just like the two flightless, peking ducks who vanished last year in the spring and the various swans over the past two years.

 

Harlem Meer is not a kind place for the waterfowl in the spring and summer.

 

If the fishing lines and hooks don't get the birds, than cruel people or kids do.

 

It has mostly been hard to watch the impacts of this profound loss on Brad, the surviving mate to Angelina.

 

For several days, Brad swam all around the lake, searching vainly for his lost love. 

 

At one point, Brad trotted enthusiastically on an embankment and up to a female mallard, who, from a distance looked a bit like Angelina.  But, quickly realizing his mistake, Brad forlornly returned to the water.

 

Since then, Brad has been mostly hanging out with the eight geese who miraculously still remain alive at Harlem Meer.  I imagine he is doing that for a sense of safety and protection.

 

Although Brad knows me for several years, he does not come up to me anymore.   I understand (and actually applaud) the new fear and distrust.  Brad has to be that way now as mere matter of survival.

 

Gone is the confidence, toughness and bravado that Brad so displayed when he and his beautiful mate ruled Harlem Meer with flightless, but iron wings. 

 

These days, Brad is just a flightless and vulnerable duck without a mate or a flock.

 

But, the kindly geese have willingly accepted Brad and seemingly offer him their protection -- at least to the degree the geese are able to offer any protection to other species when their own is so under attack from humans and the USDA.

 

I worry greatly for Brad when the Central Park "goose harassment" program kicks into high gear in another month or so.

 

Brad will not be able to escape and fly away with the geese and the mallards. 

 

Rather, Brad will simply be alone and a literal "sitting target" on a watercourse fraught with all kind of dangers (to flightless waterfowl) from fishing hooks and lines, to kids throwing rocks and sticks at the birds to those cretins who try and grab flightless birds to "take home for dinner."  (I suspect that is what happened to Angelina who, in my view, used to take too many chances wandering around on the grass in warm weather.)

 

I of course, brought these concerns up recently to two Central Park Rangers who tried to convince me that Angelina was the victim to a "hawk" or some other creature of nature, but I don't for a minute believe that.

 

These two birds knew very well how to avoid predations by hawks or other predators and for the most part, they were wary of people, too.  But, there was that "confidence" and risk-taking tendency on the part of Angelina.  It was something that concerned me on more than one occasion.  Sometimes, I tried to chase Angelina back to the safety of the lake and its banks.  But, she was a stubborn duck in doing what she wanted and felt comfortable doing.

 

Obviously, on one evening, Angelina pushed that confidence and luck too far.

 

I begged the park rangers to allow me to arrange rescue and sanctuary for Brad, the now only surviving flightless duck of the Meer.  (It is against the law to remove wild birds from the parks -- though obviously ill meaning people do it.)

 

But, despite my pleadings to do things "by the rules" they have fallen on deaf ears.

 

"We don't allow rescues of healthy birds," I have been repeatedly told. -- Even though Brad has absolutely NO change to survive a frozen Harlem Meer in winter without the help, at least of his flightless mate.

 

The one "concession" I got from rangers is that perhaps when winter comes, they would be willing to look at rescue possibility.

 

But, I frankly don't think Brad will make it to the winter.

 

There is the "goose harassment" to think about and that is only weeks away.

 

Yesterday morning, I went to the Meer again and found Brad, as usual, right next to the eight geese and a few mallards.   A lone cammorant also hung with the geese and in fact, stood peacefully right next to a goose.

 

All the birds were huddled together in a small, fenced in area near the Dana Center.

 

Relieved and happy to see Brad once again (as he is usually invisible at night when hiding with the geese in the middle of the lake), I tossed him some wild bird seed, which Brad and the smaller birds love.   (The geese all remained in their sentry positions and did not move or approach the food.)

 

An older, white woman then approached me and came up to my face.

 

Removing my music head phones to hear what the woman was saying, I thought she had some comment about my two dogs resting peacefully by my side.

 

But, instead the woman waved a finger in my face and then pointed to a sign.

 

"Can't your read the sign that says not to feed the wildlife?" she said in an accusatory, nasty tone.

 

Suddenly, a rage swelled up inside me, as I thought about all the geese being slaughtered around the city and the disappearance of Angelina two weeks ago.

 

"YES, I can read the sign, lady.  And here is what I think of it and YOU......"

 

I then launched into a long tirade of expletitives, punctuated by several, "YOU WANT TO KILL THEM ALLS?"

 

Suddenly looking shocked and scared, the woman backed off and sought retreat next to three bystanders.

 

But, it was clear the three young people wanted no part of the frey and moved away from the woman.

 

Having completed taking some photos and tossing the small amount of treats to the birds, I was ready to leave Harlem Meer, but had to pass the woman who was still standing with a frozen look on her face.

 

I thought about going in the other direction, but decided not to be intimidated.

 

I grabbed my two dogs and passed the woman, glaring at her in the process.

 

"YOU WANNA KILL ALL THE BIRDS, LADY? IS THAT WHAT CREEPS LIKE YOU WANT -- SO THERE CAN BE MORE OF YOU?"

 

God forgive me, but I hated that woman for that moment of time.

 

She represented all that has gone wrong in our relationship with nature and the endlessly persecuted and now, extremely wary, scared and protective geese.

 

The geese, who Brad now has to cling to for whatever chance of survival he has. 

 

"BrAdgelina," no more.    -- PCA

 

 

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

 

The Two Percent Solution

Interesting information coming out of Birmingham, Alabama yesterday, following a slaughter of 200 geese from local parks a couple of weeks ago:

 

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/07/food_bank_turns_down_meat_from.html

 

The local food bank rejected the "donated meat" because "the safety of it could not be guaranteed."

 

More geese to fill up landfills and more PR "charity" stunts gone awry.

 

Nevertheless, one commenter on the site speculated that the rejection came on the heels of much community outrage over the killings of park geese and that charities like "The United Way" didn't want to be involved in the controversy for fear some of their other donations would suffer.

 

That actually makes much sense when one stops to think about it.

 

Between the "safety" questions of eating meat from animals whose diet is unknown and who have lived in environments of pesticide, insecticide spraying, and pollution, in addition to the controversy of killing "pets" in public parks, then yes, a calculated risk assessment would deem the geese to be rejected.

 

The same is likely to occur in Pennsylvania -- IF people there and in New York kick up the same "fuss" as in Alabama.

 

So far though, that is not happening.

 

One might question, "why?"

 

For one matter, the media in New York City has failed to address any questions regarding the "safety" of the geese rounded up here to be shipped to Pennsylvania for slaughtering, processing and so-called "distribution to the poor."

 

And though myself and others have persistently raised these questions on article comment boards, Facebook and this blog, they have so far fallen on deaf ears.

 

As noted repeatedly, many of the geese are in fact dying in the USDA trucks even before they leave the 80+ degrees, roundup sites. One cannot feed rotting corpses in the heat to anything, least of all, humans.

 

Why is the media not questioning or investigating the claims?

 

They are apparently not hearing from and getting pressure from enough people.

 

Last night, when walking home from Central Park, I thought about most of the people who go to the park and broke up the numbers into speculated percentages. (Admittedly, these are guesses, based upon personal observations, so I cannot vouch for precise accuracy).

 

55% go for exercise such as running or cycling.

 

25% for family-related or romantic activities (romantic walks, picnics, concerts and plays, playgrounds, etc.) *

 

10% walk their dogs.

 

5% Tourism.

 

3% Fishing.

 

2% Nature watching.

 

(*  "Family-Related Activities" used to include feeding ducks and geese in the parks, but that has been forbidden in recent years.)

 

Because nature lovers comprise the lowest end of the speculated park attendance scale, I believe this is why our concerns for wildlife are not addressed adequately and taken seriously. 

 

It is also why the USDA can feel comfortable and unchallenged when entering city parks in the morning hours to round up geese and why city officials have so effectively been able to manipulate the media to report that all the geese are being rounded up and killed for "airline safety" and that their ravaged bodies will be "fed to the poor" in Pennsylvania.

 

Nevertheless, once in a great while, that "two percent" does kick up a fuss.

 

It kicked up a fuss last July 8th, when two reputable and credible nature watchers discovered 368 missing geese and goslings at Prospect Park and immediately notified the New York Times. 

 

Anne-Katrin Titze and Ed Bahlman were the two people single-handedly responsible for media exposure of goose kills last year and indirectly, the development and organization of a rag tag group of goose lovers who founded a place for mutual commiseration and communication via Facebook:

 

For the love of the geese in Prospect Park (92)

 

Although initially more than 600 people immediately signed up to the page devoted to the Prospect Park geese, over the months that ensued, most went on to other things as news of goose killings faded from headlines.

 

But, the core group remained active and persistent -- about two percent of the original joiners.

 

Over the past year, we have consistently researched and shared articles and information and commented on article sites.

 

There have been  protests organized by groups,  Friends of Animals and In Defense of Animals, as well as vigils and rallies organized by members of the core FB group and community members of Prospect Park.

 

There have been meetings with the Prospect Park Alliance and The Humane Society of the United States.

 

There was even the establishment of "Goosewatch" over the past month or so as news of further goose cullings this year in New York City became known.

 

All of these things ultimately resulted in Prospect Park being spared this year of a goose roundup -- though roundups are being repeated and even expanded in other areas around New York City.

 

This demonstrates that even a tiny percentage such as "two percent" can have impact upon and change a wrongful action to a positive one, if organized, persistent and focused.

 

But, the two percent, city-wide of nature lovers has yet to be sufficiently organized and focused such as the tiny percentage from Prospect Park was over the past year.

 

That is something that urgently needs to occur if we are to have any hope of saving geese from being slaughtered next year and the next, around city parks.

 

Hope for that is evidenced this year by the discoveries and reporting of goose roundups occurring in Inwood Park and Willowbrook Park in Staten Island by two nature watchers, Suzanne Soehner and Barbara Suskind.

 

Like Prospect Park last year, these are the only two goose roundup sites to so far receive any media coverage.

 

We need the rest of the two percent to step out of the shadows and into the realm of speaking out for change.

 

To quote Margaret Meade:

 

"Never doubt that a small group of people cannot change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."  -- PCA

 

 

                                                          *********

 

 

Death Takes a (Temporary) Holiday

(Photos:  The "family" last night just prior to July 4th fireworks.  Lame goose with most of the webbing on one of her feet gone.)

 

Like most government workers, it is presumed that the USDA took a short break from their otherwise "hectic schedule" over this past weekend to observe the Fourth of July.

 

For many geese in city parks, this was their last weekend alive.

 

For those in Manhattan, it was for most, a frightening one.

 

But, more about that later....

 

USDA was very "busy" last week.

 

They hit numerous parks, most of which we will not know of until the USDA  puts out a report some time after the goose cullings.

 

However, we do know that the USDA hit Willowbrook Park in Staten Island, as well as Inwood Park and Marine Park Golf Course last week.   We know that from eyewitness accounts and several newspaper reports.

 

Unfortunately, we are not getting eyewitness reports or photos from most of the locations that are surely being hit and their goose populations wiped out.

 

So far, however, at least one New York City witness, Suzanne Soehner, of Inwood has reported seeing the USDA trucks.

 

Before showing up at Inwood to round up the 20 to 30 geese there last week, USDA had apparently been to other locations first.   Ms. Soehner describes the scene in a comment to the NBC article site:

 

".....The geese I observed already in crates on the truck that arrived in Inwood Hill Park on the morning of the roundup contained immobile geese who looked quite dead. The food bank claim appears to be an implausible, incredible attempt to placate potential protesters to this travesty. I'm not buying it."  (Emphasis supplied)

 

We now have two credible eyewitnesses from different parts of the country describing geese in USDA trucks who are either "half" or "quite dead."

 

Rotting corpses cannot be "fed" to anything -- least of all, hungry people in another state.

 

We have been putting out the call to others around the city in suspected goose targeting sites to monitor parks in the mornings with a camera.

 

(For those unsure about USDA target sites, please go to USDA Goose Removal Report from 2010, scroll down and see if your area was on list of "removal" sites last year.  Although the culling sites have expanded this year, many from last year are repeated:  http://www.scribd.com/doc/48437644/2010-Goose-Removal-Report#source:facebook )

 

So far, the calls for monitoring have not yielded anything, but there is still time.  

 

Unfortunately, without video or photographic evidence of cruelty and animals dying in USDA trucks, we cannot "prove" anything

 

The claim of "feeding the geese to the poor in Pennsylvania" is still going forth, unscathed, unchallenged and even unquestioned by the media.

 

 

Yesterday, was the Fourth of July -- a day of pride and celebration for the birth of our nation.

 

I am neither feeling much pride nor celebration these days -- particularly with the current actions of my country.  The deliberate eradication of wildlife from city parks is instead, making me feel ashamed and very much fearful and despaired.

 

Nevertheless, I headed out to Central Park last night with my two dogs shortly before dusk to check on "my" geese there.

 

When first arriving, I could not see any geese at all in the Central Park Reservoir.  A feeling of temporary alarm came over me:  Could USDA have been HERE?

 

But, there is some kind of barge or rock formation in the middle of the Reservoir, where birds of different species like to stand and hang out.  In the distance, I could make out some birds there, but couldn't tell what they were.

 

I decided to move on.

 

I headed towards the lake where the "family" of geese I know are spending their molting period.  The "family" is Mama and Papa goose from Turtle Pond and five of their grown goslings from last year. There are also three other geese who, for whatever reason, have joined up with the family during the delicate and challenging molting season.  I say, "delicate and challenging" because during this six week period, the geese cannot fly -- the reason of course, that our government finds them such easy targets for roundups and killings.

 

When seeing the family and their new friends on their familiar rock in the middle of the water, I drew a sigh of relief and breathed a short "thank you" to God for protecting them.

 

Thankfully, there were not many people in the area I was.  The geese, when recognizing me, began to gradually leave the rock and swim towards me, Papa goose, of course, in the lead.   

 

The next half hour or so was my July 4th celebration.  But, it wasn't one of noisemakers or fireworks.

 

It was rather, one of peace and tranquility.  I sat down and took photos of my friends.

 

Several of the geese took treats from my hand, though I believe they did so more to appease and placate me than because they were particularly hungry. A small group of mallards then came upon the rock to share in the goodies. --  "Panhandlers" as Martin Lowney of the USDA refers to mallards.  The thought made me chuckle.

 

What appeared to be a professional photographer with a tripod stopped a few feet away from the geese, ducks and me and took pictures.

 

I was almost tempted to crack a joke about not publishing any photos for fear I might be arrested or the geese rounded up by the USDA and slaughtered, but instead, said nothing.

 

I was enjoying the quiet and serenity of the moment too much and didn't want to spoil it with conversation.  That might have been true of the photographer, as well, as he too, said nothing.

 

I then noticed one of the geese (a girl, I think) who has most of the webbing torn from one of her black feet.  Pink stood out, where the webbing once was.  I can't say what caused what looks like, a not too recent injury.  Perhaps a snapping turtle, or a fish hook or line.  In any case, we now have two lame geese among the family -- Papa and one of the new geese.

 

Anyone who says the geese have it "easy" in life doesn't know what the hell they are talking about.

 

Even without the endless harassment and killing by humans, these birds never have it easy.

 

After saying their greetings to me and hanging for a while, the peaceful geese returned to the water and headed back to their "safe rock" in the middle of the lake.  It was beginning to get dark and I too, left with my dogs, once again, saying a small prayer to God to continue to look our for and "protect my geesies."

 

I headed back to the Reservoir again to see if I could find any of the six or so geese  observed occasionally since the molting season began.

 

The Reservoir again appeared desolate and empty in the fast fading light.

 

But, a small crowd of people was beginning to assemble at the East and North sides of the Reservoir to watch, in the distance, the July 4th fireworks over the Hudson River. Though not the greatest area for fireworks watching, surprisingly, one can still get a pretty decent view from the Reservoir.  For people who hate large crowds (like me) it can actually be ideal.

 

A part of me began to wonder if the fireworks in the distance might scare whatever birds were on the Reservoir?  I decided to stick around to watch the course of events.

 

Suddenly, large "booms" in the distance and the far skies lit up with brilliant displays of bursting colors.

 

This went on for a few minutes when suddenly, one could hear from the west side of the Reservoir, a louder, far more shrill sound than any booming fireworks.

 

It was the piercing honking of a goose.

 

The sound was steady, long, eerie and continual. 

 

"H...O...N...K.......H..O....N..K.......H..O..N..K.....H..O...N..K......."

 

Suddenly, I could make out on the darkened water, one goose seemingly swimming alone and quickly  towards the eastern part of the Reservoir, away from the exploding firework colors and crashing sounds.

 

Then, there was another goose and another. And then a family of five geese swimming in a group. 

 

I began, with my dogs to follow the fleeing geese.

 

They headed speedily towards the farthest north and east parts of the Reservoir -- as far away from the fireworks display over the Hudson as possible.

 

And then, directly behind the geese, the mallards.

 

By the time all of the birds had reached the north east corner of the Reservoir, I was surprised at the actual numbers. While certainly not huge, there were more geese and ducks than I had seen all spring and early summer.

 

The "alarm" goose honking had long since stopped as by that time, all the birds were congregated together and it seemed they were beginning to realize that whatever was happening in the distance was not a real and viable threat to them.

 

They then waited out the fireworks, a little uneasy, but not seemingly in a panic.

 

What surprised greatly about the scene before me was that the mallards stayed with the geese, rather than taking off and flying north.  The geese of course cannot fly now.  But, I wonder if that is also true of the mallards or whether they just elect to stay with the geese for "safety" whether they can fly or not?

 

That is something I need to inquire about and look in to.

 

The fireworks display finally ended.  As spectacular has it was and exciting for most people to watch, I personally could not wait until it ended.

 

The birds were at last at peace.

 

As I and the hundreds of other people on the Reservoir path began to head in the direction towards home, the geese and mallards also headed back to wherever it is they are hiding out during this "season of the witch."

 

The shame in all this, is that they have to hide out at all.   - PCA

 

 

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The Season of the Witch

As millions of people head out of town to enjoy the July 4th weekend, others are left to face the sudden emptiness and eeriness of city parks recently cleared of their entire goose populations by the city and the USDA. 

 

Here are two such articles from the past few days.

 

From Staten Island, New York: 

 

http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/07/officials_ridding_staten_islan.html 

(note that this short article has generated more than 130 comments!)

 

And, Madison, Wisconsin:

 

http://www.channel3000.com/recreation/28417071/detail.html

 

Madison is unique in the sense its Mayor has provided us with a new and "compelling" excuse for killing the geese:

 

"The geese have a 20 year life span."

 

These in fact, are Mayor Soglin's exact words in a letter to a constituent:

 

 "I support multiple efforts to curtail the geese including oiling of the eggs, active harassment perhaps by dogs and adjusting the geese habitat by maintaining longer grasses. It is important to keep in mind however, that geese have a 20 year life span. That is why the Parks Commission recommended some harvesting as a last resort. I am not enamored with this solution but wish to hear more discussion about it and other alternatives to permanently removing adult geese that have a 20 year life spans." (Emphasis supplied.)

 

Of course, someone should inform Mr. Soglin that is indeed a very rare goose these days that makes it to "20 years" -- or even 20 months.

 

Both, witness descriptions and photos of USDA roundups of Canada geese indicate a large portion of the geese currently being "culled" are healthy juveniles and even newly hatched goslings.

 

But, presumably Mayor Soglin doesn't watch photo slide shows of Canada goose roundups on  Youtube:

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85EYtIqZmww&feature=youtu.be 

(Please post and share this photo entourage, far and wide.)

 

The "war" on Canada geese and the endless persecution and destruction of them reminds one of the similar past campaign against cats in Europe.  The animals were rounded up and killed because they were labeled and thought to be the "evil" pets of witches.

 

Of course, Europe paid a heavy price for that slaughter campaign against animals.

 

The rat population then exploded and brought the black plague which then killed millions of people.

 

Some wildlife biologists claim that because we have killed off most of the goose's natural predators, the goose population has "exploded."

 

According to the latest national goose count provided by Carol Bannerman of the USDA, we have 3.4 million geese throughout the United States.

 

The US is a very large country. It is startling to realize that we cannot tolerate a little more than three million geese within its wide borders which include Alaska and Hawaii.

 

Some people laugh when advocates for the geese express fear of eventual extinction of the geese. 

 

But, is such fear truly irrational under the current circumstances?

 

We are destroying many thousands of goose eggs.  We harass the animals and are culling hundreds of thousands of geese throughout the country -- mostly younger, healthy geese. 

 

We also hunt the geese.

 

So, what does that leave to carry on the species?

 

Migratory geese?

 

Well, no because their populations are already down and have been declining for years, mostly due to habitat destruction and overhunting.

 

Should the gene pool of healthy resident geese fall too low, then they will simply not be able to adapt to all the human predations upon their species (Predations that no natural predator could ever wreak.) The geese cannot "recoup" the losses that we have inflicted and continue to do so upon their species.

 

One has to always remember that we once had billions of passenger pigeons in this country.  But, the last one went extinct in the early part of the last century, prompting the passage of the, "Migratory Bird Act Treaty."

 

But, that important treaty has now been usurped, allowing for many loopholes for which the USDA can freely conduct its goose massacres without being sued for them.

 

I don't believe under the circumstances, that the fear of the geese ultimately going extinct is an irrational one.

 

But, it will be an extinction that we literally watched before our eyes, whether as witnesses in a public park or as videos and photo slides on YouTube.

 

We are once again, after all, living in the season of the witch.  -- PCA

 

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More Goose Roundup Photos and NBC News Coverage

Writing this very fast this morning....

 

More photos from Jim Pfeil.   There are actually hundreds for us to go through and post.  Big job that could take weeks.   I actually started a special Flickr page just for goose roundup photos. We are only seeing tip of iceberg now:

 

Flickr: USDA Canada Goose Roundups  

 

Yesterday's rally for the geese was fantastic.  More than 100 people showed up in front of the Mayor's Townhouse to speak up for and defend our precious geese.

 

NBC News also showed up and the young, up and coming reporter, Chris Glorioso did a wonderful job in covering the story professionally and fairly.  Please share this link with others and please take the time to comment and thank this kind and thorough reporter (a rarity these days!):

 

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/as-seen-on/NYC_Goose_Elimination_Plan_Ruffles_Some_Feathers_New_York-124830594.html

 

We of course urge anyone living near a public park that has geese, to please keep special  watch on them for the next two weeks.  If possible visit parks in early mornings and bring your camera.   It goes without saying that if you witness a roundup of the geese, please contact us immediately: protectourgeese@gmail.com.  

 

Sad to say, but this struggle is only beginning.   -- PCA

 

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