Killing the Geese who Lay the Golden Eggs

(Photo:  The family of geese at the lake last night.  Yes, they are moving around more these days and preparing to soon fly.  Several of them flapping wings.. Soon....soon.)

 

                                   

We just discovered yesterday that the cost of the USDA goose roundups around NYC is costing the taxpayers, $91,000.   That is up from $45,000 last year:

 

http://comptroller.nyc.gov/mymoneynyc/clearview/    (Please type "USDA" in search box to bring up report.)

 

 While all kinds of other services are being "cut" and there are raging budget debates in Washington, DC, the taxpayers are still being soaked to the tune of almost $100,000 to kill geese from local parks.  It seems the one entity that is practically doubling profits during these otherwise tough economic times, is the USDA.

 

And yet, the USDA is quite literally killing the geese who lay the golden eggs for them!

 

They don't seem to show much gratitude, appreciation or even common sense.

 

It seems more to the USDA's long term financial benefit to advocate for the "humane management" of the geese as opposed to wide scale exterminations.

 

Goose exterminations could eventually wipe out this guaranteed "cash cow" for the  

USDA -- or should we say more accurately, "cash goose?"

 

Will we then be notified of government workers for the USDA suddenly be thrust on unemployment lines when the supplies of geese to round up and kill runs out?

 

When that happens, they will get no tears from me.

 

                                                           -------

 The other night, when reading through some of the comments following the Madison, Wisconsin roundup and killing of 200 geese last week, one comment particularly stood out and needs to be shared here.

 

It is from someone calling himself (or herself) "Madravenspeak" and is absolutely brilliant and insightful in accurately summing up this entire issue.  (Notice particularly, how even when safe refuge was offered for 500 geese in Madison, the city and the feds still elected to kill the birds):

 

 From Madravenspeak:  "The DNR goose kill in 2010 in Wisconsin was 62,348. Those geese were just as beautiful and innocent and relatively few compared to the human population as the geese rounded up and killed at the Madison parks. 8,397 ...of them were killed in blinds 100 yards apart encircling Horicon Marsh, a national wildlife "refuge" treasure:
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land​/wildlife/hunt/waterfow/re​port.pdf

Killers have dominated the DNR and the mentality of those indoctrinated by a hundred years of the media making killing "normal" and "fun" by the anachronistic "outdoors" pages of the newspapers. There has been only killing advocacy and no regular media that questioned the killing mantra of the DNR. Media is not supposed to be in bed with government - it is supposed to be a watchdog.

The USDA, of course, is in the slaughterhouse business. It is what they know and specialize in. Instead of teaching reverence for all life and the interconnectedness of our lives with the web of life, our media teaches murder and killing for fun. It glorifies it. Sanitizes it. Excuses it.

I live 50 miles north of Madison along the little Neenah Creek and a mile from the Big Slough. Both are ideal goose and duck habitat. Both are bereft of geese and ducks. Why? Because the DNR army of favored elite "hunters" line up and kill our migratory birds coming into and going out of former wildlife refuges, and all over the state they kill.

My neighbor, a 79 year old American Indian, who lives on the Big Slough, offered to take 500 geese from Madison parks along the Big Slough. We offered it last fall at the "hearings" and I emailed and called Soglin's office June 23rd to say we had volunteers to help get the geese and goslings up here. They would NEVER want to go back to Madison. Did they try this sensible alternative and make every effort to honor the beautiful wild brethren that grace our lives. Hell - no - I had a reply from Soglin 5 days after the geese were slaughtered. "So sorry - maybe kinder methods next time."

 

 Unlikely. Not as long as the Park Commission and USDA and DNR are killing businesses for human utilitarian philosophy. Humans who are destroying our planet, our oceans, our whales, finning sharks, trophy head-hunting, trapping, and confining billions of animals for slaughter - and causing a faster mass extinction than the dinosaur one.

 

This is the supreme species made in the image of God? God must be some mess. Or very regretting that he grabbed up a bunch of clay and messed with it there at the end."

Read more: http://host.madison.com/ct​/news/local/grassroots/art​icle_c56793fc-aca4-11e0-9f​2b-001cc4c03286.html?mode=​comments#ixzz1S3TM914C

 

 

 Killing the geese that lay the golden eggs, indeed.  -- PCA

 

             

                                                        **********

 

 

 

 

 

Crimes and (Anticipation of) Flight

I came very close to "ringing necks" yesterday. --  But, was too relieved and too happy to even consider the idea.

 

Rather, like a worried parent living in a crime infested area whose rebellious child has stayed out with friends till midnight, (without benefit of a call) one is simply too filled with joy to even think about being cross or ringing necks when the loved one(s) finally show up.

 

Central Park is of course not normally a "crime infested area."

 

But, while the USDA is in town doing its dirty work of goose culls around the city, then no goose in any city park (with the exception of those few parks, indicated not to be on goose kill list this year) can feel "safe."

 

Nor can those of us who care about the protection and preservation of these magnificent birds, feel any sense of peace or security while the USDA is around.  Rather, (like myself over the past two days) many of us become paranoid wrecks during these few weeks of the "season of the witch."

 

So expedient and proficient has USDA become in goose roundups over the past decade, it apparently hit all five boroughs of New York City in just three days last week.  (This according to a credible source who just received the USDA roundup hit list from last week.)

 

Is it any wonder my stomach almost ended in my throat the other night when going to Central Park and finding "my" geese in two locations suddenly missing?

 

While a USDA targeting was not the first thing thought of, it obviously had to be considered.

 

But, yesterday morning was different.

 

I first went to the Central Park Reservoir, where immediately, I could makes out bird forms in the middle of the water.   Though they were too far away to positively identify, I guessed most were probably seagulls, because of the circular flying and landing on the water.

 

Still, that to me, was a positive sign.

 

(The past two days, I had not even seen the seagulls.)

 

Then, walking around the Reservoir, I could finally make out geese forms along the steep embankments. Then, either in pairs or a small group, they began to leave the banks to swim and dabble in the water.

 

By the time the geese all entered the water, I counted a dozen.

 

Was that a relief to see them?

 

Oh yea.  Just like the parent whose kid suddenly comes sauntering through the door at midnight.

 

"There you are!"  (I didn't even bother to ask, "Where the HELL have you been for the past two days?")

 

I tossed a few seeds to some of the geese who were only too happy to trot up an embankment to grab and eat.

 

While the Reservoir contains a lot of shrubs, plant and small insect life, it is devoid of the short lawn grass that the geese so love.  During the time the Reservoir geese are flightless (June- July) they don't have option of flying to some of the park lawns for snacks.   I noticed that the geese at the Reservoir are thus, far more hungry for snacks  than the geese in the other areas of the park who have far wider access to grass and other goodies. 

 

While the molting geese at the Reservoir might have it harder in terms of desired foods, they do however have it easier than other sites of Central Park in terms of safety. 

 

There is no fishing at the Reservoir, nor boats in the water, nor running dogs nor any human activity for that matter.  Certainly, the Reservoir is one of the most peaceful and safe spots for the geese (though the steep and narrow embankments can be slippery for them to navigate).  But, despite the limited menu and slippery terrain, it seems quite a few geese chose the Reservoir as the safe location to molt this year. 

 

One guesses that no site is "perfect" for molting.  Each has its plusses and minuses.

 

Nevertheless, the geese should soon be able to fly within the next couple of weeks, so their menu choices at that time will substantially increase and flat terrains will be far easier on the feet of the Reservoir geese. 

 

I bet they can't wait for that!

 

Feeling so positive after seeing "my" geese at the Reservoir were OK, I was almost sure I would see the "family" at the lake again.

 

Once again, the hunch was right.

 

As soon as I arrived to the lake, I could immediately see all ten geese swimming together in the water -- though they were a little further south and west than I am used to seeing them.

 

I walked with my dogs to the rocky area where the geese were peacefully dabbling in the water.

 

There must have been a lot of good duckweed or small insects for the geese to feast on, as they did not approach me as is usual in the evening.   But, perhaps that was more due to the many people and tourists around me.  As such, its better for the geese not to come too near people anyway.  I did not attempt to feed the geese, but simply snapped a few photos.

 

Papa goose did acknowledge me however, by posing for one of the photos.

 

While tempted to give Papa goose a lecture about the "hideously cruel, hide and seek game" of the previous two days, I declined.

 

It was just too happy a moment, seeing them all swimming together and knowing finally that they were all safe.

 

Returning home, I could still not figure out what had "happened" over the past two days.

 

Obviously, the geese are not yet flying yet.

 

But, I do think that particularly the geese at the Reservoir and the lake are closer to flying than the geese at Harlem Meer.

 

Could it be that they simply start to move around more, just prior to flying?

 

Could it be that as they grow in their new flight feathers, they start to feel better and more energized?

 

Certainly, these seem like very plausible explanations for the strange "disappearances" over the previous two days.

 

Then again, there was a huge fire at an Upper East Side Synagogue early on Sunday evening.  And even though that was at least a half mile away from where the geese were in the park, one could see large plumes of black smoke darkening the summer skies in the distance.

 

Could it be possible that the ever-present and acute sense of "danger" in the geese -- even though the fire was quite far away -- sent the waterfowl and other birds, scrambling for cover and "safety" on Sunday night?

 

I suppose I will never know exactly what caused the seeming "vanishing" of the geese from Sunday night to Monday morning.

 

I just know that like the geese, I cannot wait for them to get their flying power back.

 

But, my desire for flight for the geese has nothing to do with flatter terrains or more plentiful food choices (though that will be nice for the Reservoir geese).

 

It has everything to do instead, with the knowledge that once the geese are able to fly again, the USDA will finally, finally have to leave town.

 

But, not without rounding up and killing at least 800 of our treasured avian friends first.

 

Yes, until the geese are able to fly again, New York City is indeed, a "crime infested area."

 

And I am like a neurotic parent, who every time, parting from my "kids" never knows if it will be the last time I ever see them.

 

The "season of the witch" sees no end until the geese once again, take flight.  -- PCA

 

 

                                                               *******

"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

 

 

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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

 

 

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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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