Back from the Banished?

(Photos:  "Hector" on the Reservoir.  "Bozo" getting a lecture from me.  Honeymooning mallards on their version of Niagara Falls.)

 

Yesterday, I was in for bit of a shock.

 

When walking near the Central Park Reservoir, I noticed what seemed a white dot in the far distance.

 

Whipped my camera out and zoomed in on the figure. 

 

It was a swan!

 

Could this be "Hector," the glorious and then very gregarious, proud, swan banished from Harlem Meer, the infamous November night of the goose "harassment?"

 

I had not seen Hector at all since that night of terror at the Meer five months ago, but had been told by a park official that he had been spotted at the Reservoir the next day. 

 

Well, apparently here he was again! 

 

I wondered where Hector had been all these months?  Where had he spent the winter?.

 

Part of me wanted to walk to the west side of the Reservoir to get a closer look. But, it was out of my way en route to Harlem Meer.

 

I wanted to tell Hector that he should return to Harlem Meer as so many people have missed and worried after him. 

 

He looked so lonely and forlorn swimming out there on the mostly empty Reservoir.  

 

But, I continued on my way to Harlem Meer, hoping that with any luck, Hector would return back there on his own.

 

That only I could assure Hector and the other birds at the Meer that no more "harassment" (i.e. using Border Collies or loud noisemakers to scare geese and other birds away) would ever occur again.

 

A promise that unfortunately, is not mine to make.

 

When finally arriving to the Meer, Hector was not there. 

 

I don't know if, in fact, the wary swan will ever return to the Meer despite the fact so many people adored and regularly fed him treats.  He surely would be welcomed.

 

But, perhaps Hector was so traumatized by the woman from the white van repeatedly crashing a loud noisemaker on the ice (as well as the piercing "alarm honks" of the geese), he had vanished into the night never to be seen again until yesterday.

 

I got the feeling when seeing him again, that Hector wanted to stay as far away from people as possible. His position in the middle of the Reservoir virtually assured him, if nothing else, a feeling of safety.

 

So, when not seeing Hector back at the Meer, though disappointed, I was not surprised.

 

The scene yesterday at Harlem Meer was however, as it has been over the past few weeks since the migratory Canada geese arrived and left.

 

Relatively quiet and peaceful with the five mated pairs of long time resident geese in their usual spots.

 

Ralph and Alice were there in the vicinity around the Dana Center, Ralph always standing guard over the slightly lame Alice like she is the Queen of Sheba.

 

Then there was the goose pair who love to dive under the water simultaneously, waving their butts up in the air.

 

And there is another pair that I have recently named, "Bozo and Bonnie."

 

Granted, "Bozo" is not a flattering name for a gander.

 

But, although this gander is extremely wary of dogs particularly, he nevertheless positions himself and his lady closest to the public entrance of the Meer.  An area where the pair are more likely to encounter dogs and their owners passing through paths.

 

Bozo is quite bold -- or foolhardy.

 

Standing in constant alert beside his cherished mate, Bozo brazenly challenges any dog who walks by, sometimes approaching and hissing.

 

Yesterday, after securing my own dogs to a park bench, I escorted Bozo back to the edge of the lake and told him he was being extremely foolish for seemingly wanting to pick fights with passing dogs!   A lot of people in the area have pit bulls.   I am afraid Bozo will one day pick a battle with the wrong dog.

 

Meanwhile, his passive mate, Bonnie looked at me as if to say.  "Don't worry.  That is just his just his little game.  Bozo's been doing that for years!  The dogs here know him by now."

 

"OK, Bonnie.  You know your gander better than I do.  But, I still think he's being a bit reckless and potentially giving a bad name to the other geesies here!"

 

Moving further along the lake, two other pairs of geese hung out peacefully with each other. 

 

And another pair were positioned further to the south west part of the lake.

 

That pair I named, "Shirley and Sean."

 

Shirley has tendency to wander away from her gander.  Sean sits on the embankment and casually waits for Shirley to return.  Since they seem to have such an "independent" kind of relationship, I wondered if these geese might be siblings?  The two act more like brother and sister than actual mates.

 

Meanwhile, the ducks are all in pairs too these days and some seem to be taking little romantic ventures outside the Meer. 

 

Saw several pairs of mallards yesterday splashing in the little, quiet creeks in the North Woods and one pair frolicking near a tiny waterfall at the entrance to the woods. I wondered if they were "honeymooners" enjoying their version of Niagara Falls?

 

"Romantic little getaways" seems to be the credo among the adventurous mallards in the spring. 

 

Finally, returning home by way of the Reservoir, I looked to see if Hector was still there.

 

But, he wasn't.

 

Back from the banished, but only to return again.

 

Don't know if I will ever see the now very illusive Hector again, but I will continue to look for him.

 

Trauma is apparently a thing that never completely banishes.  -- PCA

 

 

                                                       *******

 

Bad News for the Geese Just Keeps Coming

From today's Brooklyn Paper:

 

http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/34/15/dtg_goosekiller_2011_4_15_bk.html

 

It is not clear where the reporter is getting the "193" figure for geese at Prospect Park.

 

But, reports from numerous park goers put the current figure to be between 40 and 48.

 

I am guessing the 193 figure might be from around the time the geese were migrating several weeks back and many hundreds briefly stopped over in city parks, including Central Park.

 

But, as has been repeated in this blog over and over, the first casualty of "war" is the truth.

 

Virtually, every article on geese these days is filled with distortions, exaggerations and misstatements.

 

It doesn't matter anymore what the actual truth is.

 

Perception is the "truth."

 

And media creates perception.

 

The few geese at Prospect Park are basically doomed with this kind of inflated reporting, as will be the geese in other areas.

 

One realizes that is not the reporter's intention.  But, it will be the result of misstated number figures for the geese.

 

It is vital for the public to stay on top of the wildlife situations in their areas and to not take at face value what is being reported in poorly researched media stories or government propaganda campaigns.

 

In this case, it is vital for people in the Prospect Park community to accurately document number of actual geese in the park and demand from city and park officials to know what is an acceptable number of geese in the park for the animals not to be rounded up and killed.

 

As far as "harassment" plans of current geese in the park, well, that too should rest with the actual numbers.

 

Harassment for the sake of harassment seems insanely poor choice for situations requiring calm, prudence, tolerance, dealing with actual facts and knowledge of wildlife behavior, mating and reproduction patterns.  -- PCA

 

                                                           *****

 

 

Pepper Spray, Shoot, Gas, Harass, Destroy. - Ask Questions Later

 

As just one more example of our incredible paranoia and irrational relationship with wildlife, there is this video making the rounds on YouTube and the national media:

 

http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/04/mesquite-officer-stuns-young-s.html

 

A police officer using pepper spray on a defenseless baby squirrel the size of a hamster.

 

The excuse offered for this senseless act of ignorance and cruelty is that the officer thought the squirrel might have "rabies."

 

The infant squirrel was later found to be healthy and released back into the wild.

 

However, being so young and tiny, his chances for survival are exceedingly slim.

 

The baby probably fell out of a nest and was simply seeking food or its mother.

 

Putting aside the obvious bungling of this situation from beginning to end, it serves as a kind of metaphor for how we as humans are currently dealing with Canada geese.

 

Shoot, gas, harass or destroy first.  Ask questions later.

 

Surely, there needs to be a better way and surely we need to demand better from ourselves and our figures of authority.

 

What should have been done in the situation with the baby squirrel wandering on school grounds?

 

A wildlife expert or rehabber should have been called. The infant squirrel should have been safely captured (perhaps with a net) and when found to be healthy either returned to the nest and mother or sent to a wildlife rehabber to be cared for until old enough to be released.

 

Of course none of that happened.

 

Instead, over-reaction, paranoia and lunacy occurred and took over.

 

And all of those things are occurring now in terms of our plans and actions against Canada geese.

 

Denigrate, create fear and paranoia.  Shoot, round up and gas, harass, destroy offspring.

 

Ask questions later.

 

But, what are the questions likely to be years down the road from these ill conceived actions?

 

"What happened to all the geese who used to live on our ponds and lakes?"

 

OR

 

"What do we do about the geese suddenly setting up house on our patio or in our swimming pool?"

 

Yes, there needs to be a better way. 

 

We need to learn about wildlife and how best to live peacefully and respectfully with it. --PCA

 

                                                           ********

 

 

 

 

Fooling with Mother Nature

According to recent newspaper articles, there are an estimated 3.89 million Canada geese residing in North America.

 

These same articles clamor for various "control" methods to be used against geese from oiling eggs (to prevent hatching) to harassing the geese with dogs, pyrotechnics and a variety of other stressors to actual cullings or expanding hunting.

 

Though presented as "news," with few exceptions, the articles are cookie cutter, dressed up press releases from the USDA.

 

They may carry by-lines, but rarely do the reporters ask critical and salient questions.

 

What are the questions that should be asked if a (responsible and inquiring) reporter is assigned an article on the supposed "need to control," harass or cull Canada geese?

 

Well, first of all, what kind of numbers are we talking about?

 

If looking at the numbers quoted for the entire continent, then almost 4 million Canada geese for all of North America doesn't seem to represent a figure that needs to be either "controlled or culled" by humans.   

 

Rather, it seems the geese are doing a pretty good job of figuring out their ideal population growths to suit the environments in which they live as well as ensure survival of the species.

 

But, what about the goose numbers residing in public parks or golf courses where "visitors complain about goose droppings?"

 

Well, in those cases, reporters might question exactly where these complaints are emanating from?

 

Geese are waterfowl who primarily eat grass, plants and small insects.   As such, they need to be around or very close to water almost all of the time.

 

It should be presumed that those grassy areas situated immediately adjacent to ponds or lakes (whether natural or man-made) are going to naturally attract waterfowl as well as contain droppings of any birds that graze on grass.

 

However, to claim that the droppings from waterfowl are "toxic" to either the grass or the water is to defy common sense and essentially pick a fight with the design of nature itself! 

 

It is like claiming that excrement from fish is "toxic" to oceans!

 

But, what about the "nuisance" and "pest" claims of the complainants?

 

Unfortunately, just as there are people who fear or hate those humans who are in some way "different" from ourselves, there are also people who, for whatever neurotic reason, resent, are fearful of or hostile towards animals.

 

One week their target for complaints might be dogs, cats, deer or pigeons.  Another week it might be the geese in their local park lake.

 

It does not seem either prudent or wise to run our world based upon the fears and intolerances of those either hostile towards other humans or animals.   

 

For those truly "bothered" by Canada geese or other wildlife, they are probably best advised to stay inside 100% "controlled" building environments and not venture out into nature.

 

We just can't turn the entire world into a plastic, antiseptic bubble, nor should that be a goal.

 

Returning to press people and what kinds of questions should be asked if covering this issue:

 

Certainly, if promoting the idea of destroying the viability of Canada goose eggs, the question needs to be asked about the likely long range effects and consequences on goose behavior and mating patterns of "fooling" and disrupting normal procreation?

 

It is of course, the drive in all species to reproduce and ensure species survival.

 

Exceptions to that are when we neuter pet animals such as dogs and cats.  (Reality is we do not have enough responsible human homes to place all the potential offspring of these pets.)  

 

However, in removing the sex organs of pets, we thus also remove their normal drive to procreate.

 

That is not true when oiling the eggs of mated, wild, Canada geese.

 

On the contrary, the geese (not realizing what has occurred) continue to sit on the eggs and protect the nest.

 

Moreover, in having failed in one attempt to reproduce, the geese are likely to attempt procreation again and again.  Probably, more than normal.

 

Remember the old commercial admonishing that, "It's not nice to fool with Mother Nature!"?

 

Well, not only is it "not nice," but its also highly unpredictable.

 

The truth is, we really don't know what long range impacts wide spread egg oiling (destruction) will eventually have on the geese.

 

At the very least, it has to be very stressful, confusing, unnatural and dispiriting to the individual geese to sit for weeks on eggs that will never hatch.

 

Continual failures to procreate could potentially lead to disruptions in mated fidelities (an issue because Canada geese normally mate for life.) OR adaptations by the geese to compensate for the predation. 

 

The geese might obsessively lay more eggs.  Or, build nests and lay eggs in difficult areas for humans to get to. --  Such as rooftops, terraces of apartment buildings or high rock formations.

 

One could argue that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

 

We cannot expect that there will be NO consequences for our constant interferences in normal wildlife patterns and mating behaviors -- often for trivial or overly inflated cause.

 

All of this is not to say that we should never take actions to either support wildlife or address real and serious (life threatening) issues of human/animal conflict.

 

But, we have to pick such "battles" very carefully and realize, there are always consequences --especially when disrupting or interfering with normal wildlife behavior. -- Behavior that has been set over the course of thousands of years by nature itself.

 

In some cases, the consequences will be far more dire than the frivolous and exaggerated "complaints" the original actions were designed to address.

 

After all, how utterly stupid, cruel and wasteful will it look to send a team of Border Collies out on a lake to "harass" less than a dozen peaceful geese?

 

How do we then answer the questions and complaints of those who ask what happened to all the other birds disrupted and chased off the lake along with the few geese?

 

And how to answer those complaints from garden apartment residents about wild geese suddenly and inexplicably building nests and laying eggs on their terrace balconies?

 

"Inexplicable?"

 

Not really.

 

After all, we destroyed the eggs where the geese normally lay them.  

 

What else were the geese to do?

 

More than half a century ago, we captively bred and released Canada geese throughout this country.

 

We thus created a native population of "resident geese."

 

Having made that bed, we should now lie in it.

 

The geese have adapted to us and we should likewise adapt to them.

 

It is, after all never nice to fool with Mother Nature. 

 

When assigned to write articles about the "need" to control, manage, harass or cull Canada geese, the main question reporters should thus ask is:

 

"WHY?"   -- PCA

 

                                                           ******

 

Government's and Media's "War on Canada Geese"

Our government and media's  "War on Canada geese" has officially been declared in this article from the Philadelphia Inquirer from a few days ago:

 

http://articles.philly.com/2011-04-08/news/29397199_1_atlantic-flyway-adult-geese-resident-canada-geese

 

Not that the piece comes as any surprise to those of us familiar with cullings, expanded hunting, harassment and egg destruction of Canada geese.

 

Past articles and information just didn't refer to these destructions as an official "war" upon the species.

 

According to this article, there are currently "3.89 million resident Canada geese throughout North America" -- "a 17 fold increase from 1970."

 

However, we have to remember that Canada geese almost went extinct in the early 1960's and attempts were then made to captively breed the birds to restore "healthy hunting populations."

 

Presumably, there would not have been a whole lot of Canada geese around in 1970.

 

Is that the goal now?

 

To force the species back to near-extinction or only allow those geese who can provide easy targets for hunters?

 

"3.89" million geese does not  sound like a very high number for all of North America.  We have 78 million dogs in the United States. We have 8 million humans in New York City.

 

Why is almost 4 million geese for all of North American an intolerable number? -- A number that necessitates a "war" upon the species?

 

Among the many negative and disparaging articles against the geese, comes this one today out of San Jose newspaper:

 

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17814921?nclick_check=1

 

Apparently, this newspaper cannot afford a fact checker.

 

The writer cites the "Miracle on the Hudson" incident occurring in June, instead of January of 2009.  He fails to mention the engine problems the airliner experienced two days before colliding with two migratory Canada geese and landing in the Hudson.

 

Let's not allow facts to get in the way of propaganda.

 

The reporter also claims that an adult goose produces "1 to 2 pounds of droppings a day" when the reality is that the birds produce about 5 to 7 ounces a day.

 

Another recent article accused an adult goose of producing "several pounds" of poop a day.  Well, what is a little exaggeration?   Hopefully, the readers don't believe everything read in these so-called "news services."

 

It seems modern reporters are not capable or willing to question or investigate any actual facts even when what they are spewing makes no sense.  They just seem to write (or parrot)  whatever sounds bad for the geese, including that the geese are "aggressive towards children." 

 

I have stated for a long time that if government and media could blame geese for things like hurricanes, Tsunamis and earthquakes, they would.   In fact, one suspects some genius is researching  ways to make such charges "stick" against the geese.   (Throw crap at the wall and see what sticks.)  Certainly, the press is not going to investigate anything, anymore than they did those "Weapons of mass destruction in Iraq."

 

I am starting to really question, "Freedom of the Press" in this country.  While our press may have "freedom," it doesn't seem to question anything.

 

Still, there is one item of note from the most recent article from California.  The writer describes the park ranger as "uncovering a nest with 12 large goose eggs."

 

That is actually significant (if we can presume the incident actually happened in view of all the other errors in this article.)

 

If 12 goose eggs were actually found in one nest then it confirms what I have been saying all along:

 

That is, that the more we prey upon a species, the more the species will attempt to "adapt" to the predation.

 

Canada geese normally lay 4 to 7 eggs to a nest.  

 

Not 12.

 

If it is true that the geese are laying more eggs now (an obvious change in behavior and normal breeding patterns), it is only because we have pressured, harassed and preyed upon the species so much, the geese have been forced to become more resourceful and resilient and in essence, to "change their behavior" to adapt to the endless persecution and harassment.

 

One suspects that one of two things will happen over the ensuing years.

 

1-- Humans will once again drive Canada geese to near extinction as the species will ultimately  be unable to "adapt" to the vast array of arsenals against them from egg destruction and harassments to hunting to cullings.

 

OR,

 

2-- We will inadvertently create a kind of "superbird" able to successfully adapt to all the persecutions and predations devised by man.  

 

If the latter be the case, then it can be surmised that even if most of the planet is eventually destroyed via nuclear accidents, oil spills or war, somehow the "wily" Canada geese will survive.

 

We taught this bird well how to survive the damnations of hell and come out the other side, victorious. -- PCA

 

 

                                                               *********

 

Mating Rituals and the Seductions of Spring

Never underestimate the protectiveness of a gander towards his mate, especially when the gal is sitting on a nest!:

 

This article from Cincinnati yesterday: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110408/NEWS01/304080018/1196/NEWS0104/Goose-knocks-cop-through-window?odyssey=nav%7Chead

 

But, truth be told, the female goose doesn't have to be nesting for her gander to be watching out for her safety like guards protecting Buckingham Palace.

 

Yesterday morning, I went to Harlem Meer with my dogs to check on all our little geese and duckie friends there.

 

As mentioned recently, there are not a whole lot of Canada geese at the Meer right now.

 

Yesterday, there was an odd total of nine.

 

I say, "odd" because all of the geese were in mated pairs except for one goose who appeared to be alone.

 

The one "loner" seemed to be a juvenile who is presumed to have been pushed away by the parent birds.  In fact, "Ralph and Alice" were not far away from the youngster.  But, when the young goose attempted to approach the older, settled couple, Ralph went after him quite vigorously (Behavior seen recently with Papa goose towards his grown goslings at Turtle Pond.)

 

Of course, one has to wonder where the rest of this young goose's siblings were or why he wasn't able to get "in" with another gaggle of geese?  Perhaps something happened to any siblings he might have had? 

 

Unfortunately,  it would be impossible for him to get an in with the established, mated  pairs of geese now at the Meer -- even his own parents.  

 

As matters were, the lone goose seemed to be hanging out near Brad and Angelina (the two flightless ducks) and within sight range of Ralph and Alice, who might in fact be his parents.

 

Speaking of Ralph and Alice, they are a fascinating pair.

 

Though not visibly nesting, Ralph protects Alice like she was the Queen of Sheba or the crown jewels.

 

I sat for about 15 minutes yesterday, watching these two romantic geese who were situated on the embankment near the Dana Center.  

 

Ralph stood like a sentry on a rock for the entire time, intently watching out for any potential challenges to either his mate or himself.  Meanwhile, lady love, Alice casually preened at herself on the embankment like one of the Kardashion sisters preparing for a media appearance or photo shoot. 

 

Alice fussed and fussed with her feathers and did everything, but put on lipstick! 

 

I almost wished I had a mirror to put in front of her!

 

When the younger lone goose ventured in a space near the two settled geese, Ralph immediately flew after and chased the poor goose at least 40 to 50 feet away.

 

Ralph then quickly returned to his lady love and took his sentry position back on the rock.

 

Alice paid no mind to him, but simply continued to preen, after which, she dug at some grass shoots in the ground.

 

It seems right now, the "job" of the ganders is to continually protect their mates, while the gals take special care to eat well and preen themselves.   They are like queens with attending servents.   If the gals say, "jump!" the ganders jump.

 

Meanwhile, I had to be especially careful to hold my two dogs back yesterday from the intense stares and couple of warning hisses from Ralph  Even though these two geese know my dogs and me quite well, Ralph these days, isn't about to take crap from anyone.

 

Fortunately, he had no objections to me shooting off some photos as long as keeping myself and my two dogs safe distance away.

 

After bidding farewell and leaving the two lovebirds to their protection and preening, I continued to walk with my dogs around the Meer.

 

Three other pairs of geese were swimming on the lake, though each pair a good distance from the others.

 

One pair of geese were particularly hilarious.

 

Situated in the middle of the lake, the two carried on as if in preparation for some kind of mating or dance ritual. 

 

A few feet from each other, the two geese took turns diving under the water and holding their butts straight up in the air!  (Talk about, "Bottoms Up!").

 

They did this repeatedly, until at one point, the amorous couple did the Bottoms Up in perfect synchronicity!

 

I whipped out my camera and shot a video of this truly fascinating spectical.  

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcFwbcMNdUo

 

While feeling tempted to issue the two lovebirds an invitation to "Dancing with the Stars" I quickly realized the gander would not tolerate millions of people staring at his sexy lady. 

 

That, could in fact be dangerous with millions of people suddenly going through plate glass windows like the naive and unfortunate cop from the article.

 

Finally leaving Harlem Meer, I gazed back at Ralph and Alice.  Ralph was still guarding and Alice, still preening.  She is quite gorgeous and pristine now.  Certainly ready for a romantic interlude under the moonlight.

 

And the two dancers were still doing their simultaneous "goose dives" on the water.

 

Ah, the rituals and seductions of spring!

 

And thankfully, the "Forever Wild" sign is still planted right outside the North Woods, near Harlem Meer.

 

Forever wild -- and romantic indeed!  ;)  -- PCA

 

 

                                                                *********

 

 

 

 

Bonding and Memory of Canada Geese

(Photos:  Love forever in Bloom;  Papa and Mama goose.  One of the grown goslings greeting me yesterday.) 

 

 

Those who know anything at all about Canada geese are aware of their utter devotion and protection towards mates, their young and each other as a species.

 

These birds mate for life and their young goslings remain with the parents for a full year and sometimes longer. 

 

But, how many of us are aware that the geese can also bond with humans and that they apparently have very keen memory on who their human friends are?

 

This news article from yesterday about a man who rescued an orphaned gosling last year who has now returned to him this year with her mate:

 

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2011/04/04/17873781.html

 

But, even an ordinary person like myself who has simply been observing geese over the course of a few years can experience bonding and memory from the geese.

 

As reported here a few weeks ago, the family of geese returned to Turtle Pond recently (Mama, Papa and their five juvenile goslings born last May).

 

When I first saw them shortly after their return, both the parent geese and goslings remembered and sauntered right up to me.  Two of the goslings confidently ate from my hand.

 

They did not, however, approach the person I was with at that time, nor other people passing by.

 

The same occurred yesterday.

 

The goslings who are now relegated to the eastern half of Turtle Pond (along with another young gaggle of geese) immediately walk or swim towards me when I approach.  However, the other geese they are with, do not.  

 

When saying all the youngsters are "relegated" to the eastern portion of the pond, that is due to the parent geese who have reclaimed the area near Belvedere Castle and the rock formations as their own (Western portion of the pond).

 

When the family first returned back, they were all together.

 

Since then, however, (as the goslings approach their first birthday), the parent geese have forced them to grow up and become more independent.

 

The first few days (or weeks?) of this "pushing out of the nest" were a little brutal with Papa goose repeatedly going after, cuffing and physically chasing away his own goslings and other geese.

 

However, yesterday, matters appeared peaceful.

 

It seems all the youngsters know now there is an invisible line across half the pond. Neither they, nor their companions dare to cross that line at any point.   Should they err in this, it is presumed Papa goose will once again remind them not so gently, of the consequences of over stepping boundaries and who is boss at Turtle Pond.

 

The rules are very much established now and all the younger geese respect them.  As noted a few days ago, if the geese have higher than normal survival rates for a species, it is due to their complex communications with each other, their organization, routines, cooperation and long established rules of order and family tradition. 

 

They are incredible animals.

 

Like their goslings, Mama and Papa goose also immediately recognize my dogs and me.

 

When first walking on the small pier of the pond yesterday, Mama and Papa goose were sunning themselves on the small rocks nearby. But, as soon as they saw me, they left the rocks and came swimming over as if in greeting. 

 

After greeting them, ("Hi Mommy!  Hi Daddy!") I took some photos, tossed a few seeds to them and left. 

 

And while there were a few other people on the pier, the parent geese left when I did and returned to their rock.

 

It was all very sweet. 

 

Still, what perhaps is most impressive in all this, is how the goslings remember me!

 

After all, they were only a few months old, when growing their wings and then leaving with their parents from Turtle Pond in early August of last year.

 

How I wanted to ask them yesterday (or Mama and Papa goose) where they spent the rest of the summer, as well as the fall and winter?

 

I did see the family at Harlem Meer a few times during the late summer, but I don't know where they went once the fall arrived and the cold weather set in. 

 

Did they fly south over the winter or did they just move to the Reservoir (which maintained some open water) and brave through the cold and snow?

 

Ah, the stories (and adventures or hardships) the geese could tell us if only we could understand their language and vice versa!

 

For all that I know and have learned about geese, I realize I know nothing at all.

 

But, for sure, what IS known is that yes, Canada geese are very capable of bonding and remembering people and I am one very blessed human being to have experienced that -- not with just one or two geese, but in fact, many.  -- PCA

 

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