Writing on the Wall for the Geese of Central Park?

Would-be Mama goose lamenting loss of unviable eggs this past summer in Central Park.

It is apparent that a few other people have questioned or even protested the excessive and irrational goose harassment at Central Park.  But as previously noted, the people are fed propaganda, exaggeration and are ultimately and usually pacified. ("Three geese are a health threat.")

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Or, in some cases, the public is simply ignored.

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These days if one calls the Central Park Conservancy to question the daily harassment of a pitifully small hand-full of geese at the Boat Lake or non-existent geese at the other CP lakes and ponds, one is transferred to a number to leave a message. Usually, no one calls back and the daily Geese Police activities continue unabated.

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In virtually all the instances of USDA Wildlife Services goose or other wildlife slaughters around the country, it is claimed that the public is "surprised."

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But, should we really be surprised when these slaughters occur?

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The signs and "red flags" are there all along.  We just don't see them. More importantly, we fail to speak up when matters are comparatively small and speaking out might actually make a difference.

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It is natural for many people to think under prevailing circumstances, "Harassment is not a big deal.  The geese aren't being killed."

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No, the geese aren't being killed today in Central Park..  But, they likely will be tomorrow.  

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Because the same vilifications and propaganda used to justify harassment of three geese on a large lake today, (as well as migratory geese) will be used later to justify a potential slaughter of the roughly 40 geese who return to Central Park in summer for molting and some attempted breeding.

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(I say "attempted" breeding because this past summer, all the eggs of the five nesting pairs of geese in Central Park were oiled and prevented from hatching.)

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One could of course theorize that with the current contract between the Conservancy and Geese Police (that apparently runs most of the year), the nearly 40 returning "resident" geese will be harassed out of Central Park this spring before they are able to re-establish breeding ground and molting residency.

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But, since most or all of the approximately 40 geese were originally hatched in Central Park, they (unlike other geese) are well used to harassment (and dogs for that matter) and are not easily deterred and frightened off.

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(Geese originally hatched at the Boat Lake in Central Park are even accustomed to boats, fishing, crowds and fireworks.)

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Chances are most of the Central Park resident geese will prevail through the spring and summer despite harassment.

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But, with what appears now to be a new "zero tolerance" for any geese in Central Park lakes and ponds, can these 40 resident geese be presumed to be "safe" over the summer molt, as they have been through even the worst of USDA goose slaughters throughout the city?  (Slaughters that have taken more than 5,000 geese over the past four years, including more than 1,000 killed at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge over the past two years.)

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I personally don't believe we can presume anything over the coming summer.

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As there has been notable change in both, the rhetoric CP is using against geese, as well as its actions,  I am personally concerned that CP leadership is being unduly influenced and pressured by USDA and other governmental agencies for a goose cull in the upcoming years. 

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While in the past it was somewhat comforting to think that too many people would bear witness to any potential USDA goose culls in Central Park, the fact that it is comparatively easy to mislead and frighten the public (and media) about geese opens doors for a potential slaughter.

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If such sounds "paranoid" on my part, one needs to read thoroughly this in-depth article from National Geographic that describes (among other things) USDA influence on policy makers in the airline industry -- basically championing bird culls as opposed to refinement and investment in the more effective avian radar to avoid bird and airline collisions:

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Bloody Skies: The Fight to Reduce Deadly Bird-Plane Collisions

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In recent years, I have personally watched the number of Canada geese in Central Park through late summer and early fall go from a couple of hundred several years ago to virtually none now.   But, even these pitiful three geese currently at the Boat Lake are being subjected to daily harassment as well as any other geese who fly into any of the other CP lakes or ponds.  (The Jackie Onassis Reservoir is, according to Geese Police, a separate entity from the rest of Central Park and under different leadership.)

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That most people (including birders and otherwise animal lovers) don't see this as "red flag," suggests we are not absorbing the information from prior USDA goose and wildlife culls around the country.  The fact is, discussion and planning for these deadly actions usually take place years before they actually occur.  

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We cannot act "surprised" by goose and wildlife culls when the groundwork for them has been laid months or years in advance and even when brought to our attention, we choose to look the other way and dismiss.

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While gratifying to know that some people have questioned and expressed displeasure with continuing goose harassment in Central Park, the numbers simply aren't enough to have actual impact and are rather, easily dismissed.

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The writing is seemingly on the wall for the nearly 40 resident geese who presumably make it back to Central Park this spring.

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One cannot discount the now likely prospect that they will ultimately end up in the 2014 USDA WS "Goose Removal Report."   --- PCA 

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"Health" Wars on Three Geese in a Public Park

"Three Geese"......Boat Lake, Central Park.

Of all the untruths mouthed about Canada geese, the one that is the most disturbing is that they pose "health threat" to humans.

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That such phrase could be leveled against three geese in an 843 acre park (Central Park) is positively astounding and absurd.

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I recall times only a few years ago, when at least a hundred Canada geese and two hundred mallards would be taking in the late summer sun and early fall breezes at Harlem Meer in Central Park.

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I recall times when young, smiling children delighted in feeding the very social geese who gently and graciously took small bits of bread from the children's tiny hands.

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I recall families picnicking on grass as flocks of geese wandered by, confident that no one met harm to them.

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I remember a young rapper standing in front of wintering geese on a nearly frozen Harlem Meer singing out raunchy song to them.   The geese appeared to enjoy it.

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This journal is filled with entries and photos from those (and other) times, as well as videos posted on You Tube.

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http://www.youtube.com/my_videos?o=U

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But, what happened to all those fun and easy times when geese and other wildlife were delighted in, rather than scorned?  

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These days there is an ongoing "health" war against three geese in the very same park that just a few years ago, played gracious host to hundreds of them. 

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When did we become a nation seemingly bent on living forever and never being exposed to a germ?

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When did we become a nation of hypochondriacs who can seemingly be scared into agreeing to anything, no matter how preposterous, barbaric and unjust with the whispering of the words, "health (or "airline") threat?"

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It is hard to believe that in roughly three short years, the geese in Central Park have gone from entertaining, graceful forms of wildlife to reservoirs of the most deadly disease "threats" known to humankind.

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Did all the picnickers and children who previously delighted in geese take sick and die?

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Funny, that we never read of these deaths in the newspapers or saw on TV news.

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But, we do see the buzz words, "health threat" in just about every article and news piece on geese as we now hear them spoken by park leaderships and Geese Police.

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We are just never presented with any actual proof -- just accusation and innuendo.

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One should not of course be surprised that Geese Police (and other goose harassment companies) resort to extreme scare and goose demonizing  tactics in order to drum up business.

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But, one is surprised by Central Park and other park "Conservancies."

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Perhaps the Central Park leadership has simply been swept up in a kind of extreme "health and fitness" craze that seems to have overtaken the entire country and forged a kind of paranoia of anything living that can't text a message on a cell phone.

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Geese are highly intelligent animals, but they can't text on cell phones. 

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And though geese are natural part of nature and their droppings biodegradable and fertilizing of grass, somehow we have suddenly developed great fear of the natural environment and its animals.

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One cannot help but wonder if we somehow "project" on to geese and other animals, the actions of environmental destruction and other very real "health threats" that are largely produced by and true of ourselves?

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For example:

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USDA plan to speed up poultry-processing lines could increase risk of bird abu  

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Those nearly "one million chickens and turkeys unintentionally boiled alive each year" cannot be good for either the environment or human health.   And yet, due to faster slaughter lines, those "boiled alive" chickens and turkeys will undoubtedly increase according to the Washington Post.

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But, it is three geese in an 843 acre park who are the real "threat" to human health.

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One can appreciate the new emphasis on "health and fitness" and people's desires to live longer.

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But, I for one won't be joining any running, cycling, or triathlon clubs anytime soon.  

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If the new world order is to "get rid of the geese" and all other animals who carry bacteria or occasionally throw up, then I am content to "go" in my allotted time.

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This new world just ain't much fun anymore.   -- PCA

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Lies and More Lies Regarding Geese and Geese Police at Central Park

The four domestic ducks at Harlem Meer.  Will they fall victim to the lies of Central Park Conservancy and Geese Police over the winter?

Geese "Get the Flock Out!" Police at Harlem Meer early this morning.

Wintering sea gulls and early arrivals of some migratory geese at Jackie Onassis Reservoir this morning.

Small flock of migratory Canada geese who have arrived early for wintering at Reservoir. Unlike the hundreds of geese who stopped briefly at Reservoir last week before moving south, these geese attempt to stay at Reservoir over winter.

"If they lie to you about one thing, then best believe they are lying about any or everything else."

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Last week I was told by an employee of Geese Police that they "do not bother the three geese at the Boat Lake in Central Park."

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It made perfect sense that three geese on a large park lake would not be deliberately harassed and I therefore believed. 

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But that too, turned out to be just one of numerous lies told by both, the man of Geese Police and the Central Park Conservancy.

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This morning in a conversation with my friend and fellow bird lover, Liliana, I was informed that Geese Police is indeed harassing the three geese at the Central Park Boat Lake.

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"I was at the lake about 11:30 yesterday morning." Liliana told me. "There were just the three geese there. -- The one loner and the pair.  Then, a young man with a Geese Police shirt and a dog showed up. The dog chased and barked at the geese and they flew a short distance away to a rock in the water.  The man then used a large container filled with rocks and attached to a long, thick rope to hurl near the geese in the water.  Frightened, the geese flew away."

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"Three people approached the man and began to ask questions." Liliana continued.  "He told them it was important to make the geese move because they would attract other geese and he also told them the geese make a mess and are diseased.  I walked up to him and demanded to know why he was lying to the people?  He would not answer, but later when the people moved away, he accused me of harassing him."

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"Harassing him?" I laughed. "That's funny considering what they are doing to the geese and other waterfowl on the lake."

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I advised my friend to call the Central Park Conservancy to register complaint about the non-stop harassment of migratory and resident geese at Central Park  -- (212) 310-6669.

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Not only was Geese Police lying about the reasons for goose harassment (as well as where its conducted), but they were apparently using additional non-dog methods of harassment.   I was told by the Central Park Conservancy two years ago that only dogs were to be used for goose harassment.  (Of course, that too, might have been just another lie.)

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It is difficult when being lied to so often and about so many things to know what is reality and what is not.

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Park and Bird guides regularly lie to people regarding the domestic ducks in Central Park.

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Instead of telling the truth that these are flightless ducks abandoned to the park by irresponsible pet owners, the people are told that the ducks are either "hybrids" or "domestic ducks gone wild," neither of which is true.

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Is the continued reporting of non-facts to park goers due to ignorance of the tellers or deliberate intent to lie and mislead?

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Though some mistruths might be attributable to ignorance (such as the origin of the domestic ducks) we have to sadly conclude that most of the lies being told are representative of deliberate intent to mislead and pacify a questioning and concerned public.

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Some things we do however, know as current day fact in Central Park:

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Geese Police patrols the park every day and throughout different times of the day.  (Liliana saw Geese Police close to noon whereas I typically see them very early in the morning -- between 7:30 and 8:AM.)

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There are currently only three resident geese in all of Central Park (the three being continually harassed at the Boat lake).

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Geese Police activities are not limited to "resident" geese.  Five migratory geese were also harassed out of Harlem Meer last week.  This despite the fact the migratory birds would have left on their own accord a few minutes later.

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Any geese flying into Central Park from now until May of next year will in fact, be migratory geese.

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Migratory Canada geese are supposed to be a "protected" species under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and New York City is part of the Atlantic Flyway -- an airspace that millions of migratory birds pass through twice a year. Many of these birds stop briefly at the Jackie Onassis Reservoir to rest before traveling on and others actually winter at the world famous Reservoir.

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Several years ago, I was told by the Central Park Conservancy that the reason for harassing resident Central Park geese in the late summer and early fall was "to make room for the migratory geese that would fly in during the winter."

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At the time, I was skeptical of the explanation.  Now I know it was just another lie as the migratory geese are harassed at Central Park too.

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Aside from the animal terrorizing, waste of donor dollars and extremism of these actions, there is also to consider, the important and cooperative role that Canada geese play on nearly frozen park lakes and ponds in winter.

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Being larger and heavier than most waterfowl, Canada geese are instrumental in helping to keep pools of open water on otherwise, fast freezing watercourses.

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Geese are able to break through thin sheets of ice, thereby creating small pools of open water for ducks and other small waterfowl to swim and obtain food.

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Without the geese, the ponds and lakes of Central Park are likely to become solid blocks of ice over the winter.  -- A situation that will surely condemn to death, the flightless domestic ducks at both the Boat Lake and Harlem Meer.   Unlike the wild mallards who have option to fly out when watercourses freeze, the domestic ducks cannot go anywhere and will therefore be marooned to starve on frozen lakes.  

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Central Park Conservancy's answer to this likely scenario is that they "care" about the domestic ducks and will arrange plans for "rescue" should the park lakes freeze over.

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But, the Conservancy made no such plans for "rescue" of the four domestic ducks at Harlem Meer last winter.

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When the lake nearly froze entirely over during a heavy snow storm last winter, it was a large flock of Canada geese who miraculously  flew into the Meer to save the day for the domestic ducks and mallards.

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The geese helped to break up large sheets of ice quickly forming on the water.

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Should the same occur this winter, the geese will be immediately harassed out by Geese Police, thereby condemning the domestics at both the Boat Lake and Harlem Meer.

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One of the things told to me by the Geese Police employee last week was that Geese Police does not harass geese at the Jackie Onassis Reservoir because the Reservoir is "owned by the city, not the Conservancy."

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But, learning today that similar declaration about not harassing three geese at the Boat Lake was an untruth, I now have to wonder about and question this?

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After all, if caught in a lie about one and more matters, it is to virtually destroy credibility for everything else.

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Already, gulls, geese and other waterfowl are beginning to gather at the Jackie Onassis Reservoir for the long winter ahead.

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But, will they be spared the harassment that has virtually plagued every lake and pond in Central Park since the end of summer?

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The jury and lie detectors are still out on that one.  -- PCA

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The Ultimate Central Park Effect?

The Ultimate Central Park Effect -- Banishment of the geese and other wildlife?

A few days ago, a friend recommended the documentary movie, "The Central Park Effect" to me.

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I googled Central Park Effect and was able to find the trailer for it, but not the full length movie without paying for it.

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Call me old and paranoid, but I try to avoid using credit cards online.

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From the trailer, The Central Park Effect seems to be about the birding community.

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Not sure I totally understand these people. 

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They seem to deeply and truly appreciate birds and wildlife, but apparently not enough to speak up for them.

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Truth be told,  there are not the birds in Central Park now that there were decades or even a few years ago.

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When going to the park in the mornings these days, I don't see many birds at all (other than at the Reservoir in winter when many migratory waterfowl take brief refuge in the still mostly open water.)

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There are clusters of sparrows and grackles here and there in Central Park, but few pigeons and other birds (though many pigeons gather around horse carriages at the far south part of Central Park because of the easily available oats fed to horses. Should the horses carriages be banned, the real losers will be pigeons.)

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I am guessing that's why birders need powerful binoculars to find the occasional cardinal, blue jay or red winged blackbird.

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Decades ago, there were thousands of pigeons in Central Park. 

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Not anymore. 

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I guess the introduction of the red-tailed hawks killed many pigeons and sent the rest to the streets -- or to the carriage horses.

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Of course, just a few years ago, there were hundreds of Canada geese in Central Park throughout most of the year -- most of them typically at Harlem Meer.

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That is certainly not true anymore as described in this journal!

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And even those few migratory geese who typically still fly into the Meer in December or January will now be harassed out.

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This stuff is sometimes very depressing to me.

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The other day, another friend criticized me for being "too negative" especially in my comments of feeling "overwhelmed" by the sheer number of cyclists and runners in Central Park.

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The complaint was general observation and not meant to condemn any individuals or even a specific activity.

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Years ago, I used to ride a bike and for many years, I was an avid swimmer. These days, I like to walk.

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Exercise is beneficial as we know -- for everyone.

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But, sometimes even very positive activities can sometimes expand to excess and ultimately overwhelm and even occasionally tread upon the rights of others to freely enjoy a park or conduct their own activities of enjoyment or leisure.

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That is what I was complaining about.  It seems the overemphasis on sporting and other human activities in Central Park has in many ways, "pushed out" the wildlife and in others ways, impacted somewhat upon non-athletes  rights to walk through a park without constant awareness of where the runners and cyclists are, as well as having to "dodge" or wait for exercisers to pass.

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Yes, I guess one could say that is negative and overly complaining on my part.

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Perhaps I am overly blaming exercisers for the fact my park seems intent on "eradicating" or at least pushing out my beloved geese and other wildlife, though the two actions are not necessarily and always related.

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Unfortunately, the nature of my work is at times, negative, demoralizing and depressing.

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I am fighting for what I feel is justice for animals (i.e. geese) that are largely despised and very misunderstood around the country.

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I am also dealing with (though not on such intense scale) other issues of animal abuse, whether they be the killing of swans, wild turkeys, cats and dogs in shelters or the killing of billions of animals for food.

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It is not easy to be an advocate for animals and at the same time, be upbeat, optimistic, totally objective and positive all the time.

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I know there are some people who manage to achieve these things (perhaps like that elderly couple met the other day), but it is a hard and emotional struggle for me.

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I think I was born wanting to "change the world."

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But, some would say to that, "The only one you can really change is yourself."

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Perhaps that is true.

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Perhaps I should take up some fun hobby like biking or swimming again and just forget about the world because it can't be changed anyway -- even a little.

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But, yet, some of us still keep trying.

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That is probably either genius or insanity or perhaps a little of both.

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In thinking about the elderly couple met the other day (and birders in general), I cannot understand how otherwise animal lovers could watch five geese be harassed out of a large park and not say anything.

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Small wonder the people at the Central Park Conservancy think me nuts and blow off my complaints about the continual harassment of the geese.

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And yet, I know there were many, many people at Harlem Meer who loved Cago, as well as the other geese and ducks who used to be there.  

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But, they are forever silent.

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Sadly, in this and many other justice cases, silence eventually kills.

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Is the ultimate "Central Park Effect" that of vanishing -- and banished wildlife?  --- PCA

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The Days of Enjoying Migratory Canada Geese....

Migratory geese gather into tight family groups shortly before take off from Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park yesterday morning.

Honking and organizing before flight.

One flock already in air over trees and others taking off.

Gaining altitude and forming "V."

"V" heading hundreds of miles south.

Three's company!

 

The four flightless, domestic ducks at Harlem Meer in Central Park are alive and healthy.

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But it wouldn't be honest to say they are entirely OK.

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I left my home before dawn yesterday morning in order to search for Cochise, Connie, Carol and Connor at a time it would presumably be too early for "Geese Police."

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It had been three days since I had last seen all four ducks. Though I suspected they were hiding from goose harassment amongst the shrubs and trees of the tiny island in the middle of the lake, I was not sure.

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Arriving at the Meer around 7 AM, I was relieved to finally find all four large quackers together and swimming on the lake.

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Recognizing me, they quickly came my way.

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But, I have never seen the "barnyard" ducks so jumpy, nervous and edgy.

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Offering some cracked corn in both hands, the ducks practically ravaged my hands in mad rush to gobble what they could as fast as they could.  

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Then, sensing an off leash dog in the far distance, Cochise & company quickly bolted and headed in the direction of the tiny island, where even the white ducks, Conner and Carol can find complete camouflage amongst the thick foliage.  

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Relieved all four ducks were alive, but saddened by their seemingly extreme fright and wariness, I continued to walk around the lake.

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There was a family of five migratory Canada geese resting in the water.

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Part of me wanted to stay at the Meer to see if Geese Police would arrive and harass the five geese. (One of their employees told me yesterday that they did not bother small numbers of geese.) The other part wanted to go to the Reservoir to watch the migratory geese take off from the water. 

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It was nearing 8 AM, the time the migratory geese usually take off to continue on their arduous journey south (half hour after sunrise).

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I opted for the Jackie Onassis Reservoir as the excitement of watching migratory birds organize and take off from the water was too much to pass up.

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When arriving to the Reservoir, the approximately, 200 migratory geese were spread out upon the water, but beginning to organize themselves into small and large family groups.

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There was much honking occurring among the flocks, presumably to decide which gaggles left first and which later.  Some of the geese rustled wings, perhaps in eager anticipation of flight.

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Then, gathered into tight groups and lined up horizontally, the geese began to take off from different locations in the water.

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First, one gaggle and then another and another.

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The take-offs were so well timed and coordinated, it was like watching airliners take off from an airport.

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In the midst of all the take-offs it was puzzling to note one gaggle of five geese suddenly flying into and landing -- like ballerinas -- on the Reservoir.

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Had this family of five geese missed a cue somewhere?

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But, some minutes after landing, these geese too, eventually took off with the others.

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Within twenty minutes or so, all 200 migratory geese had left the Reservoir. Some in small, tight family groups of three to eight.   And some in skeins as large as 25 to 30 geese.

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Though leaving the water in straight, horizontal lines, all the geese eventually formed their noted "V" formations when gaining altitude.

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I was lucky to get some photographs and was generally happy with what was a very exciting morning:

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(More photos here):  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.537670286311051.1073741835.114425621968855&type=1

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But, then I wondered of the five geese seen earlier at Harlem Meer?

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Had they left, too?   Did the Geese Police show up?  What were the four domestic ducks up to at that hour?

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I decided to return to the Meer to satisfy curiosity.

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The domestics ducks were no where to be seen anywhere on the lake.  I had to once again surmise they were seeking camouflage in the thick brush of the tiny, forest-like island.

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The entire lake appeared surprisingly empty of waterfowl.

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There were few mallards and even the five migratory geese observed earlier were gone.

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Happily not seeing the "Geese Police" van, I guessed the migratory geese had taken off on their own -- as did their counterparts from the Reservoir.

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Walking around the lake, I noticed two elderly, white-haried people sitting on a park bench with large binoculars fixed upon the then leaf-covered water.

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Figuring the couple were "birders," I walked up to them.

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"Do you like birds?" I asked.

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"Oh yes," the man replied.  "That's why we're here."

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"The best viewing for birds these days is the Reservoir." I offered. "I just came from there after watching a couple of hundred migratory Canada geese take off from the water.  It was very exciting to see.  These days, they chase the birds from Harlem Meer."

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"Yes, we know." the man replied somberly.  "A little while ago, the Geese Police were here."

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"Really?  There were five geese here earlier.  Did the Geese Police chase them away?"

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"Yes, with the dog."

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Taken aback with the news (especially considering the apparent lie communicated to me the day before by Geese Police), I simply replied, "That's terrible.  The five geese would have left on their own anyway."

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(It occurred then that the five geese observed oddly flying into the Reservoir at the time the rest were leaving, were likely the five geese harassed out of Harlem Meer. -- A thought not pleasant to me.)

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But, the elderly couple seemed resigned to the situation at Harlem Meer -- obviously one they did not like, but had no control or say over.

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The old man nodded in agreement to my statement, shrugged his shoulders and then returned to watching floating leaves on top of the bird-empty water with his binoculars.

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"Well, try to enjoy the rest of the day." I said and moved on.  The man and his wife bade me a weak smile and nodded, "You, too."

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Since it is only a couple of days before the NYC Marathon and Central Park was filled with teams of runners everywhere, as well as thousands of speeding cyclists, I decided to avoid the melee by walking home via the Fifth Avenue pedestrian path of the park.

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That too, was filled with teams of racing runners.

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In one case, a "horizontal line of nine" that nearly collided with me before I jumped out of the way, nearly ramming into a tree.

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I was so annoyed at that point that even the runners were bothering me. Normally, I barely notice them.

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It was simply incredulous that Geese Police harassed a family of five migratory geese out of Harlem Meer  (geese who would have left five or ten minutes later naturally), while at the same time, regular pedestrians and park goers have to dodge racing cyclists and runners in virtually ever corner of the park -- and even outside of the park.

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Such wildlife "harassment" actions are not only wasteful of donation dollars, but more significantly, terrorize the other waterfowl on the lake (most notably, the domestic, flightless ducks) and leave elderly bird watchers with only drifting leaves on water to focus binoculars on.

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I don't know that the elderly, birding couple sitting on a park bench at Harlem Meer have the physical strength and wherewithal to dodge speeding athletes and walk the mile plus to the Reservoir in order to still see waterfowl.

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Hopefully, they have a computer at home and can watch goose and other bird videos on YouTube.

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If so, they can enjoy this:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co9f8ecXEvw&feature=share   ("The Migratory Canada Goose")

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But, the days of enjoying the migratory Canada geese (and many other waterfowl) at Harlem Meer in Central Park (and all other CP lakes and ponds) are long gone.

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Thank God, we still have the Jackie Onassis Reservoir -- which coincidently, is surrounded by a running path and therefore, not normally conducive  to the more "laid back" bird watchers.   

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YouTube, here we come.  -- PCA

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