Tasks and Facts for Saving our Geese from Indefensible Massacre

We who care about saving any of our park and Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Canada geese have our work cut out over the next the next two months.

 

First, there is the need to organize volunteers to monitor target parks in the early mornings (or if possible view from a window) in order to document and report USDA trucks showing up for goose roundups.  One must have camera or cell phone capable of recording photos and video.  Any sightings of USDA trucks arriving from mid June through late July need to be immediately reported to (27) GooseWatch NYC  by directly calling 567-NY-GOOSE (567-694-6693). 

 

Unfortunately, though more than 3,000 Canada geese have been rounded up and killed from city parks throughout all five boroughs over the past three years, there is little photographic and video recordings of these exceedingly cruel and indefensible events.

 

That needs to change for both the sakes of the victims and the transparency of the government, specifically, USDA "Wildlife Services." 

 

Recently, David Karopkin of www.Goosewatchnyc.com  requested from the USDA that a representative of Goosewatch be able to videotape and photograph goose roundups for the sake of public transparency.  He was informed by a USDA official that such would be "stressful" to the geese.

 

It is apparently acceptable for the geese to be stressed during roundups, cramming into turkey crates and slaughter, but its not OK for them to be "stressed" by someone taking photos.

 

This is the kind of irrational thinking and secrecy and that needs to be challenged over the next two months. 

 

"Those who have nothing to hide, hide nothing."

 

We need to document the planned goose roundups set to occur throughout all five boroughs starting next month.  Almost all of New York City, (including Central Park) is within the "kill zone" for geese.   If you are able to help monitor your local park in the early mornings, please join facebook page (27) GooseWatch NYC and or text:  NYGOOSE TO 556-78.

 

Another major challenge before us is MEDIA COVERGE AND RESPONSE 

 

Sometimes people express grief and frustration over what is happening to geese, but they don't know what to do, who to protest to or what to say.

 

This is unfortunate because the geese are repeatedly demonized in the press and have been for the last three years.

 

We need to be able to effectively respond to the all the accusations, exaggerations, misinformation, comments and questions.

 What follows henceforth are tips and suggestions for writing Letters to Editors and/or commentary to published articles.

 

1-- Keep commentary factual, concise and to the point. Choose a particular focus and keep to the focal point.  An excellent example of this is a recently published letter from the Times Union:

 

http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Letter-Radar-can-help-detect-geese-3561121.php

 

2--Be careful of unintended offense to particular groups or humans in general.  Any comparisons of animal abuse and human atrocity offend large groups of people and result in alienation. Terms like "murder," "holocaust" or "enslavement" are lightening rods for offense.  Every atrocity is unique in its own terrible way and has special place in history.  It is usually not helpful to compare or mix them with issues we may be fighting for now.  

 

An example of this is an excellent Op Ed piece recently published that unfortunately uses the term, "Holocaust."

 

Op-Ed: The Bird Holocaust Is Coming To Jamaica Bay! | Sheepshead Bay News Blog

 

 Although the writer is technically correct in usage of the word by definition,  ("Great destruction resulting in extensive loss of life") the otherwise excellent piece draws criticism from some understandably upset over use of the term and its usual association with the murder of six million Jews during WW 2.   Such errors in sensitivity distract from the actual issues and can dilute and distort a writer's message and intent affecting credibility.  We have to be especially sensitive to the sufferings and trauma of other people.

 

3-- Avoid personal criticism of particular individuals or groups of people. Don't mix goose issue with other "left" or "right" winged causes and try to avoid any subtle or outright insults to individuals or groups. It is common particularly on comment sites that others of different view will resort to condescending name-calling and personal attack ("You're an idiot." "You don't know what you're talking about.")  Try not to take the bait.  If possible to reply with humor, irony or fact, proceed.  But, usually it is best not to be dragged into pointless, infantile jabs that detract from the issue and challenges at hand.

 

Speaking of facts, following are important facts to incorporate into any contacts with media, the public or politicians. 

 

FACT:  The most common complaint against resident Canada geese is, "They don't go anywhere!" (i.e. "make a mess.")  Like almost all allegations against geese, this one is highly exaggerated, but has small element of truth.  Resident geese do in fact, move.  But, they move very little. Bands placed on resident geese indicate that the average Canada goose stays within two miles of its birth place.  Because they are heavy birds, flying expends much more energy in Canada geese than smaller birds. This fact is very important when addressing the argument that resident Canada geese are a "threat to airliners." 

 

Resident Canada geese, "pond hop."  They may typically fly from a park lawn to a nearby pond, usually a short distance. In winter, resident geese may be forced to find open water if lakes and ponds freeze over. But, even then they will seek the closest area possible. In spring Canada geese will seek desirable areas for possible nesting. Such areas have to provide good coverage and be reasonably close to water.  Usually they are easy to find in the local park. The same is true in summer when geese seek good food sources and safety during the molt.  For all of these activities, resident Canada geese are usually able to fulfill all of their needs year round by staying in the same general area. 

 

Resident Canada geese simply do not expend and waste flying energy if they don't have to. Because they fly short distances, resident Canada geese usually do not obtain the necessary altitude to represent any kind of "threat" to airliners. Resident Canada geese, barely fly over the trees in our city parks and one wildlife refuge. The "threat to airliners" is therefore nearly zero and this is born out by actual statistics from the NTSB which indicate Canada geese to be extremely far down on the list of birds that collide with airliners. (Seagull and starlings are the birds most sucked in by jet engines.)

 

 

FACT: Currently, 0.68% (less than one percent) of the hundreds of millions of flights occurring,  result in a collision with wildlife of any kind. Of these, none have resulted in recent loss of human life in the United States.

Additionally, following the Miracle on the Hudson,  the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board)  issued 33 recommendations for avoidance of bird strikes -- none of which mentioned wildlife eradication. What should (if at all) be a last resort measure - killing animals - is being done as a first step: 

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/05/nyregion/05ntsb.html?_r=1

 

http://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/reports/2010/aar1003.pdf

 

Finally, killing animals is no guarantee for safety.  As Ida Sanoff points out in her excellent Op-Ed: The Bird Holocaust Is Coming To Jamaica Bay! | Sheepshead Bay News Blog, other animals will fill the vacuum created which could potentially exacerbate the threats and create other problems

 

FACT: Resident Canada geese fly low.  Migratory geese (and other migratory birds) fly high.  According to the Smithsonian Institute which tested feathers, The two geese sadly sucked into the engine of Flight 1549 "Miracle on the Hudson" on January, 15, 2009 were migratory geese from Labrador, Canada. The incident occurred at 2800 miles altitude and it is speculated the high flying migratory birds were seeking open water area during frigid weather.  But, the salient fact in this near tragedy, is that even had New York City killed ALL of its resident geese prior to the January 2009 incident, that would not have prevented it from occurring.  And the fact that we are attempting to wipe out all our resident Canada geese now will NOT prevent another airliner from having to ditch in the river following a bird strike.

 

The fact is, we could kill every resident bird in New York City and that would not prevent a "bird strike" with any one of millions of migratory birds that pass through New York City and the Atlantic Flyway every year.

 

FACT:  High flying, migratory Canada geese were not Flight 1549's only problem. The airliner that ditched in the Hudson on January 15, 2009 suffered mechanical issues (engine stall) only two days before and almost had to emergency land. (The particular plane model had tendency towards this problem.):    Passengers report scare on earlier US Airways Flight 1549 - CNN   Perhaps had this incident and the passengers' trauma been taken  seriously resulting in the aircraft being grounded, two geese would still be alive today and the Miracle on the Hudson never would have occurred.  

 

FACT:  According to some experts, bird strikes are more common than what is actually reported. However, following the Miracle on the Hudson incident, bird and plane collisions are reported far more now than in the past. This unfortunately gives journalists, politicians and the general public the impression that bird strikes are dangerously "increasing" at an alarming rate.

 

There are several reasons to expect more bird strikes. 

 

1-- The sheer increase in air traffic volume. (i.e. more planes, more strikes.)

 

2-- Faster and quieter planes.  (Birds unable to get out of the way fast enough or hear oncoming jet.)

 

3-- Planes flying lower when arriving to or departing from NYC. ("Next Gen" technology.)

 

But, even if assuming that bird strikes are being "under reported" (which is particularly doubtful in NYC following famous Hudson incident) this would merely give further credence to the argument that modern airliners are able to withstand virtually ALL bird strikes without human casualty.

 

FACT:  Not one person has lost his or her life on a commercial airliner due to a Canada goose.

 

One might ask, "What is all the fear, targeting and hysteria about?"   And why are resident Canada geese being punished and wiped out for something they never did and likely never will according to the biological and life patterns of these birds?

 

FACT: Resident Canada geese are easy targets and scapegoats due to their inability to fly during the six weeks of the molt. Canada geese are completely defenseless -- and especially when unable to escape by flight.  Canada geese have no fangs or claws with which to defend themselves and they cannot run. The hapless geese are therefore extremely "easy prey" for low level USDA "Wildlife Services" employees to corral, cram into turkey crates and shove into trucks.  Easy pickings, easy money and easy (but completely ruthless and unjustifiable) slaughter.

 

There is in fact, no excuse in the world to defend what has occurred in New York City for the past three years -- least among them "airline safety."

 

FACT: The main reason for this carnage is protection from lawsuits should any plane go down as result of a bird strike.  And even though the chances of this occurring are extremely remote and miniscule as pointed out by the evidence, such possible catastrophe would result in millions of dollars of lawsuits against the city, the FAA, NTSB,  airline carrier and possibly others.  Government and industry needs to be able to say we "took reasonable measures" to avoid such tragedy. 

 

The problem is that any good attorney could look at the evidence regarding resident Canada geese and rightly claim that such "measures" of eradication of a non-threatening, barely flying bird were not "reasonable" at all, but rather a smokescreen.  

 

FACT:  Technologies already exist (Merlin Avian Radar, for one) and more need to be developed that can predict and avoid possible bird strikes.  But, first the will and the investment needs to be there. Recently, thousands of aerospace engineers and scientists lost jobs due to the disbanding of the space shuttle program. Great minds could be put to noble deeds in the researching and designs of new technologies that could potentially avert bird strikes all together.  Nothing is impossible in this technically advanced age. Mass killings of birds however, is not any kind of "technologically advanced" solution. Rather it is the "kill everything that moves on four feet or flies" seeming mentality of the USDA "Wildlife Services"  recently exposed in a series of investigative articles by the Sacramento Bee: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/06/4469067/suggestions-in-changing-wildlife.html#storylink=scinlineshare

 

Conclusion:  These facts and many more lay evidence to the claim that the killings of thousands of resident Canada geese in New York City have neither justification nor factual defense and will do absolutely zero in helping to insure any kind of "airline safety." -- PCA

 

 

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"Willingness to Respond and Invest" -- Seeking Real Solutions to Bird Strikes

"One Canada goose:  10 pounds.

 

Airbus A320 jetliner: 172,000 pounds.

 

Combine the two at 200 miles per hour and 155 lives are in need of a Miracle in the Hudson."

 

Such begins the provocative and somewhat dramatic opening to an opinion piece published yesterday out of Chicago calling for mandatory reporting of all bird strikes:

 

http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=205369

 

The article, ("Despite Recommendations, FAA still not budging on Mandatory Bird Strike Reports" by Nolan Peterson) makes the case that the FAA and aerospace industries are not doing enough to protect the flying public by requiring that all bird strikes be reported.

 

Like anything else, there are "pro" and "con" sides to the particular argument.

 

The pro side of mandatory reporting of all bird strikes is to give us better information on how best to predict and avoid them, as well as indicating which birds airliners are more apt to collide with.

 

The con sides are costs, bureaucracy and to the airline industry, public relations.

 

It is not my place or intent to dissect the pro and con arguments of mandatory reporting of bird strikes.  Motorists are not, after all, required to report every time they hit an animal on the road.  On the other hand, we are not targeting various species of animals for mass "cullings" to avoid car collisions.  (Mostly we post "speed limits" on roads and on highways to minimize car accidents and this generally works well for most people and animals.)

 

But, with the airline industry, we are dealing with different realities than the auto industry.

 

Fact:  There will be far more planes in the skies over the ensuing decades, thereby increasing the potential for bird strikes.

 

Fact:  We are constructing planes to fly faster, carry more passengers and fly "quieter" through the skies.  These things also increase the likelihood of bird strikes as birds have less time to get out of the way and may be less likely to hear oncoming jetliners.

 

Fact:  The building and expansion of more airports, usually on the outskirts of cities, often puts them in conflict with refuge areas, wetlands and sometimes industrial areas that are bird attractants. Certainly this is true of JFK airport which lies closely to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and other marsh areas and to which a trash facility is soon to be built near (much to the dismay of Capt. Sully Sullenberger).

 

Nevertheless, it is still important to put all of these things into perspective.

 

For example, at Chicago's O'Hare airport, there were 140 bird strikes last year that resulted in no human casualty.  That is out of 3,000 daily flights carrying more than 66 million passengers.

 

Obviously, a human being has a much better chance of being killed by a lightening bolt or falling tree branch or being abducted by aliens than dying as a result of a plane collision with a bird.

 

Since 1988, 220 people have actually died as result of bird and plane collisions.

 

That is 220 people out of how many trillions of airline passengers flying over the past 24 years?

 

Nevertheless, no one wants to be one of those 220 misfortunate souls or have a loved one on one of the doomed planes.

 

And so yes, we need to address the problem of increasing birds strikes due to more and faster, quieter planes in the air and we have to try and prevent any possible human fatalities.

 

But, we have to do these things responsibly and effectively.

 

The question to ask is, Do we accomplish these goals by simply killing lots of birds?

 

Judging by recent media reports, the answer to that seems to be a resounding "No" as despite massive killings of 36,000 Canada geese and other birds around the New York City area in the past five years, bird strikes are reported to be "increasing."

 

"Killing zones" around New York City have been expanded from just the airport areas, to five miles around the airports to (for Canada geese) 7 miles around airports.

 

And  yet, despite all the carnage and expanded kill zones, we had two bird strikes over the past month resulting in widespread media coverage and one Senator's call to virtually wipe out ALL the Canada geese in New York City.

 

But, here is another question to ask:

 

Suppose we were to kill EVERY resident Canada goose in New York City and every Laughing Gull at Jamaica Wildlife Refuge and thousands of starlings, cormorants and other birds. How would that prevent an airliner from ditching in the Hudson or creating a "hole in the ground" after hitting any one of millions of migratory birds passing over New York City or colliding with an eagle or egret?

 

Certainly, it is neither "doable" nor desirable to kill billions of birds who  fly. 

 

The fact is we cannot suitably address the "bird strike" threat or eliminate the possibility of catastrophe simply by killing lots of birds or even wiping out the entire avian population in New York City!

 

The killing mandates just seem to create good PR for certain opportunistic politicians and fantastic media "hype" for certain ambitious, "investigative reporters."

 

I am not a pilot, an engineer, a scientist, a biologist or an entrepreneur.

 

But, there are technologies being developed and already on the horizon (some of which [mortar-detection radar and thermal imaging] are alluded to in the article posted above) that represent the true hopes for ultimate and advanced solution to the dilemmas.

 

As Ed Herricks, professional emeritus of environmental engineering at the University of Illinois is quoted in the piece as saying, "There are lots of technologies that can be reasonably applied. What has to be improved is the willingness of the whole aerospace industry to respond and invest in this."  

 

Recently, the space shuttle program has been disbanded putting thousands in the aerospace industry and space programs out of work.

 

Perhaps their expertise in engineering and science can be put to good measure figuring out state of the art means for airliners to avoid birds in the air?

 

The days of "shootouts" at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and goose gassings from our local parks need to "go" the way of the cave man and dinosaurs.

 

Other than fodder for media hype "reports" and political reelection campaigns, they don't solve a damn thing. -- PCA 

 

 

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Jihad on Avian Life?

We are fast going from merely "strange days" to downright crazy days.

 

Out of Chicago today comes this ridiculous story of a man suing his employer, Mitsubishi for $50,000 because he was knocked over by a goose:

 

http://wjbc.com/man-alleges-geese-attack-at-mitsubishi-plant/

 

Not sure what the guy was doing to incite a "goose attack" but this frivolous lawsuit is right up there in the insanity and greed department with the lady who tried to sue McDonalds because she spilled hot coffee on herself.  This man needs to "sue" Mother Nature -- or lock himself inside of a plastic bubble.

 

But, that is not the only "crazy" media piece today.

 

More significant and troubling is this "Investigative" news report which aired on ABC TV last night:

 

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news%2Finvestigators&id=8661759

 

One is compelled to question exactly what Investigative Reporter, Jim Hoffa's point was in doing this story?

 

That we are not killing enough birds in NYC?  That the "war" on Canada geese needs to be extended to Laughing Gulls?   That Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge should be packed up in a suitcase and "relocated" to Disneyworld?

 

Referring to the latest USDA "Bird Hazard" document (USDA - APHIS - Regulations and Assessments - Wildlife Damage Management)  Hoffa references back to bird/plane strikes occurring "40 year ago" to somehow make the case that such strikes are "increasing" now and the government has failed to do anything about them.

 

The ""Investigative Reporter" failed to provide any data indicating the actual increase in airline traffic over the same 40 years.

 

One can be quite sure that the number of planes flying in NYC airspace over the past 40 years has at least, quadrupled to put matters conservatively.

 

One might reason, more planes in the air, more bird strikes?

 

When one actually puts matters into that perspective then the so-called "increase" in bird strikes is actually extremely low compared to the increase of planes in the skies.

 

But, apparently actual facts and data comparisons don't make good "investigative" news stories.

 

It is far more dramatic to insinuate that every bird flying in NYC skies is a potential "threat" to bring down an airliner and cause massive human casualty, as well as to send up that old hue and cry, "The government isn't doing enough to protect us!"

 

Well, guess what?

 

Bad things happen in life -- especially with the advancement of technology.

 

People die in car crashes everyday.  People have stepped into manholes or crashed cars while texting on a cell phone. People have been killed by falling tree branches in parks.  

And occasionally any one of the billions of planes that fly will collide with a bird.

 

In virtually all cases of bird and plane collisions, planes either continue on the journey or return to airports without human causality.

 

But, that is not acceptable to the media and to many politicians who believe they have to present the image of protecting the public from every imaginable ill or "bad thing" that could ever happen in life.

 

For the media to suggest that the "government isn't doing enough" to prevent bird strikes when, according to this report, "The Port Authority has eliminated 36,000 birds over the last five years" compels one to question, what exactly is "enough" to satisfy an ambitious "Investigative Reporter" or the media in general?

 

A jihad on all avian life?

 

Apparently.  

 

According to the ABC report, the "elimination" of 36,000 birds over the past five years did not make airline travel over NYC any "safer."

 

So, then, what was exactly accomplished by these eliminations?

 

The suggested "removals of" (or really, "war" on) Laughing Gulls, The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and of course, Canada geese (that very favorite of scapegoats due to being easy targets for roundup during the summer molt) makes as much sense as the $50,000 lawsuit against Mitsubishi for one person being knocked over by a goose.

 

Occasional bad things happen in life. We can either learn to adapt, accept and work through those bad things -- or surrender ourselves to the alternative.

 

Hopefully, one day the FAA, the airline industry, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs  and our so-called "Widlife Services" can figure out a way to install modern and technically advanced gadgets or special lights on planes that sufficiently warn any wildlife in the area of oncoming danger.

 

We can seemingly come up with solutions for nearly everything else in life, why not that?

 

Or, is it simply easier to target, scapegoat, destroy and threaten to sue anytime something in life might go wrong? 

 

One would like to think that we as humans are more "advanced" than the latter ethically, intellectually, scientifically, spiritually and technologically. 

 

If not, then more "crazy" and ultimately self-defeating and futile days ahead -- and more lawsuits. -- PCA

 

 

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Mother's Day -- Geese Style!

Yesterday was beautiful, warm and sunny in New York City.

 

Figuring that Central Park would be extraordinarily crowded on "Mothers Day" Sunday, I waited until close to dusk to return to the Turtle Pond and Boat Lake areas for daily goose and wildlife "patrols."

 

I did not expect to see the two youngsters of Mama and Papa goose hanging out at the Great Lawn has they have been spotted a few times over the past couple of weeks.

 

Even at 7 PM, there were hundreds of people on the lawn, picnicking, playing ball and just enjoying the day.

 

But, the two-year-old sibling geese weren't at Turtle Pond either! (A favorite hangout over past couple of weeks).

 

Perhaps the reason for that was because there were several guys fishing around Turtle Pond, casting huge, long fishing lines on and across the water?

 

There were, in fact, hardly any mallards or other waterfowl at Turtle Pond yesterday.  It seems for whatever reason, they all took a hike.

 

The only wildlife visible on the small pond was the mass of turtles who almost always stay near the small "wildlife observation dock" at the west side of the pond.

 

But, apparently the fisherman weren't content having the entire pond to fish around.

 

One of them, a kid about 13, suddenly ran from a grassy area of Turtle Pond to the small (No Fishing") dock with a fishing poll jutting out in front of him.

 

People and small children had to duck out of his way.

 

Figuring that the kid was going to the dock to fish, I quickly followed.

 

And just as suspected, the boy immediately cast the fishing rod and line into the water where all the turtles lazily swam in circles below. 

 

But, thankfully, it was not I who had to correct him.

 

A man on the dock quickly pointed to the sign prohibited fishing, "You can't fish here, but there are other places....."

 

Grateful that someone else was willing to pick up the reigns of what little wildlife protection we have in Central Park, I turned around and made my way to the Boat Lake.

 

Arriving to the Boat Lake, I was surprised to see three pairs of geese swimming around in the water, though not as one flock. 

 

Wow, look at that!  Six geese!

 

Papa and Mama goose were however, relaxing on their "home" rock in the middle of the water casually watching the activities around them.

 

Gradually, two pairs of geese swam towards the rock where Mama and Papa stood..

 

I fully expected Papa to aggressively charge the visiting geese, but instead, he honked a couple of times as if welcoming them!

 

This was really strange, considering how Papa recently banished his own grown "kids" from this part of the lake!

 

Why was Papa suddenly being so accommodating?

 

Two of the geese even walked upon the rock.  They stayed for a few minutes and eventually left.  At no time during the brief encounter did Papa goose chase, harass or peck at the visiting geese.

 

The scene was totally baffling to me watching from the other side of the lake.

 

The two geese who had just left Mama and Papa began to swim across the lake towards the land rock where I stood with many other people.

 

As soon as they arrived and climbed out of the water, I recognized them as the same two sibling geese who had spent the past couple of weeks at Turtle Pond and the Great Lawn. -- Two of the grown goslings of Mama and Papa.

 

The girl (recognizing me) casually walked up and took some sunflower seeds from my hand, while the gander mostly watched and "guarded."

 

A number of people took photographs of the very social geese and I engaged in small "goose talk" with a couple of them.

 

A mother and young daughter loved seeing the geese and requested I take a photo of them together standing in front of the goose pair.  A professional photographer also shot photos and asked me various questions about geese.

 

It was all very pleasant and entertaining.

 

Finally, the two siblings left to return to the water.  Around the same time, the four other geese who apparently had stopped by that part of the Boat Lake yesterday, honked and took off for some other area of the lake or park.

 

While a little hard to figure out what exactly was going on yesterday, I decided to walk to the other side of the lake to be closer to Mama and Papa still sitting on their favorite rock, quietly watching everything.

 

Once in the Ramble where typically Mama and Papa see me, they, as always, left the rock and began to swim in my direction. 

 

Mama was happy to get her treat of sunflower seeds from my hand and Papa also indulged in his share off the rock.

 

Both geese seemed to be in particularly high spirits last night.

 

From behind me, a voice asked, in slight Spanish accent, "Are they Canadian geese?"

 

I turned around to see a man, perhaps in his early 40's curiously watching my interactions with Mama and Papa.

 

"Well, yes, they are Canada geese and as you can see they are very friendly." I answered. 

 

"They are very beautiful and as you say, very nice.  I love animals and come here to see the birds and other animals." the man replied.  "Nature is so lovely and peaceful."

 

The man and I talked for a few minutes.  He told me of his three rescued cats at home and how he abhorred any kind of cruelty or abandonment of animals.

 

I told him of the city's plan to round up and kill almost every Canada goose in our parks.

 

"That is unbelievable!" the man bemoaned, truly shocked.  "Look at these beautiful and peaceful birds!   What could anyone have against them?"

 

"The claim is they fly into airplanes."

 

"Ah, puleeze!  These geese stay here....I come to see them all the time!  That is just excuse!"

 

I gave the man a flier and requested that he look it over and become part of Goosewatch, NYC.

 

"Yes, gladly!  I will do whatever I can to make sure these geese are safe!"

 

By this time, Mama and Papa, having enjoyed their treats and seemingly, the entire evening, began to lazily make their way from the rock back to their home base.

 

Bongo drums could be heard in the distance and the sun had just gone down.

 

I said goodnight to the man and gathered up my two dogs to return home.

 

It was only when more than halfway home that it dawned on me that the "baffling" scene witnessed earlier was the grown goslings' return to visit their parents -- especially, Mama, on Mother's Day!

 

No wonder Mama and Papa were in such high spirits!

 

And how fortunate was Mama to actually get a personal visit from all her "kids" yesterday?

 

Many of us human parents can only expect a long distance phone call on such days!

 

I know there are those who will say that the visiting geese were merely taking leave of the Great Lawn, Turtle Pond or other areas of Central Park because of all the extra human activities and fishing yesterday.

 

But, I absolutely believe it was the "goose style" of Mother's Day.  --- PCA

 

 

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Strange Days

Everything about the past few weeks has been strange.

 

From the two minor airliner strikes with birds, resulting in Senator Gillibrand's politically expedient call to "expand" and "speed up" goose kills in NYC, to the troubling disappearance of "Piggly" (one of the three domestic ducks at Harlem Meer), to what now appears to the odd disappearance of the latest USDA document on goose "management" and "reduction" in NYC from their website.

 

The USDA document link posted in this blog a few days ago (and then working) now brings up a "404 error message" that the page is "no longer available" (or moved).

 

Attempts to find the new site link failed and a note sent to USDA requesting new or proper link has not yet been responded to.

 

This is disappointing and strange.  I had extra time yesterday to pour over the laborious pages of documents to hopefully earmark and begin to formulate comment. ("Comments" are due by June 11th). But, have now seemingly lost the entire weekend.

 

A DVD (or CD) sent a few days ago from USDA Wildlife Services with the same material failed to be read by my otherwise working, DVD player. 

 

Seemingly disappearing documents along with a disappearing duck.  Strange events.

 

Unfortunately, Piggly was not the only duck to meet a strange and untimely end in Central Park over the past week.

 

A May 10th article describes the horrible and cruel death of a mallard in Central Park due to the jaws of an off-leash dog:  Attempts to save the mangled mallard ultimately failed and the duck had to be euthanized:

 

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120510/upper-west-side/duck-euthanized-after-dog-attack-central-park

 

As a dog lover and owner myself, these kinds of events are extremely unsettling.

 

"Off leash" hours at Central Park are normally very pleasant times for dogs and their owners to get together in early mornings or evenings and enjoy the special freedoms and privilege of dogs being able to run and play. 

 

But, "privilege" is not something owed, but rather something granted through demonstration of responsible behavior and respect.   Those dog owners allowing their dogs in park ponds and lakes to harass waterfowl or allowing "prey driven" dogs to chase and terrorize squirrels or other animals obviously have little "respect" for either park rules or animals other than their own pets.

 

Personally speaking, I never allow my dogs off-leash despite the "off leash" freedoms.  My dogs get enough exercise and I have always made sure from the very beginning that both dogs are respectful towards other animals in the park -- including waterfowl.

 

I will never know what happened to Piggly this year or Angelina last year or the two flightless, Pekin ducks at Harlem Meer two years ago.   All four domestic ducks just mysteriously "vanished" at different times during otherwise beautiful weather and "easy days."  

 

But, I do know that Joey, another Pekin duck was attacked by a dog at the Meer in January of 2011 and sustained life threatening injury.

 

Joey was lucky that he was able to be saved, treated and eventually adopted.

 

But, other animals in our city parks are not so fortunate.  

 

As written a few days ago about the fishermen in our parks who routinely disregard park "off limit areas," and  leave garbage and fishing lines around to pollute the environment and mangle wildlife, if rules cannot be followed and respected, then the privilege (whatever the privilege is), should be revoked.

 

True, the few "bad apples" make it bad for the other members of a group who are responsible.

 

But, as noted so many times, our city parks simply do not have the manpower and law enforcement staff to be everywhere all the time.

 

It is therefore up to the members of a group to "come down" on those members who flaunt park rules and apparently believe the wildlife of our parks is only there for their torment and abuse.

 

Personally, I always "gently remind" those dog owners allowing their dogs into the waters (especially the Boat Lake)  of Central Park to harass ducks or geese that such is against park rules.

 

As said yesterday, opening one's mouth to correct or protest is never pleasant (I personally loathe having to do it).   But, unless willing to do the small stuff of everyday life, eventually, many of the privileges that people enjoy in our parks could be revoked out of necessity to protect the environment, wildlife and even other human park goers.

 

Bottom line is that dog owners need to "get their act together" just as fishermen do in our parks -- or otherwise risk losing their privileges.

 

Not wanting to encounter the stress and conflict once again of witnessing unregulated and seemingly "out of control" fishing at Harlem Meer yesterday afternoon, I instead went to the Meer in the early evening (after the Dana Center, which rents out fishing equipment. was closed).

 

There were still a few people fishing off the rocks in the lake ("off limit" area) with their own fishing lines and rods.

 

But, there were very few ducks or geese in the water for them to harass or potentially harm.

 

The few mallards at the Meer these days were mostly huddled in the marshes and plants surrounding the lake as if trying to rest or hide out.  (There was much human activity around the Meer last night due to the unusually warm and pleasant evening.)

 

There were only two geese at Harlem Meer and both were in the middle of the lake, seemingly resting on the water together.

 

I am not sure if one of the geese might be the same goose who was, for more than a week, alone, usually at the east portion of the lake.  I did see "Loner" the other night, swimming alone on the water but moving around more freely. 

 

Did "Loner" suddenly find a new goose friend in the past couple of days?  

 

Possibly.  And if so, that is "strange," but welcoming news. 

 

Still, the lake was mostly empty of waterfowl last night -- but not without its "strangeness" as has been the hallmark of the past several weeks.

 

I found Brad and Wiggly (pictured) in their usual grassy, "off limits" (to humans) area near the Dana Center.

 

Wiggly seemed happy to be on land and appeared, (like the mallards) to prefer to rest for the evening ahead.

 

But, Brad had other ideas. 

 

I watched for better than a half hour last night, as Brad left the small protected area to swim with and seemingly "befriend" a lone, mallard drake.

 

This was very strange indeed, as for the past two months, I have seen both Brad and former protege, Piggly do nothing but harass mallards from their "territory."

 

Why was Brad suddenly being so "nice and welcoming" to a mallard?

 

I honestly have no idea.

 

But, knowing Brad to be a very calculating duck, I am quite sure the action wasn't random or without some significance or plan.

 

Perhaps having recently lost a key member of his "flock" Brad is seeking a new replacement for reasons of security and defense of territory?

 

Certainly, Wiggly is useless for security and territorial defending. -- Though she does like to keep her "boys" in line.

 

At one point, Wiggly, seemingly annoyed that the two male ducks were wandering too far from her line of vision, squawked very loudly and immediately, both Brad and the drake swam back to Wiggly as she stood, vehemently protesting and calling.

 

Wiggly rarely, if ever opens her mouth to "talk."  But, when she squawks, the boys listen.

 

Shortly thereafter, Brad and the drake swam off again, and for a few minutes, Wiggly followed.   But, she had no real interest in "soliciting" a new member to the flock and returned to the embankment where she continued to carefully watch the boys, while wanting to take it easy on land.

 

I wanted to tell Wiggly that she should simply follow Brad's lead and decisions all of the time as he knows well what is needed to survive at Harlem Meer.

 

"Soliciting" a new duck may not make sense to Wiggly at this time, but the truth is, that had Brad not welcomed her seven months ago, its likely she would not be alive today.

 

Unfortunately, wild mallards and domestic, flightless ducks do not have that much in common -- other than both being of the same species.

 

When the going gets too tough at the Meer, wild mallards can just take off.  Additionally, mallards like to fly around (especially in the spring and summer) just for the "fun" of it -- something neither Brad nor Wiggly can ever do.

 

I don't know that this seemingly new "alliance" between Brad and this wild mallard drake can ultimately work.

 

But, apparently Brad feels the "need" for a third member of the flock -- one who can aid in security and territorial defense.   There are, after all,  no other domestic ducks at the Meer for Brad to solicit for this purpose.

 

Do desperate means call for desperate measures?  Or, is "The enemy of my enemy, my friend?"

 

Was this lone drake perhaps shunned from other mallards for some reason?  Does he have some limitation (such as inability to fly) of which I am unaware, but Brad recognizes?

 

I don't know.  As in everything else, much remains to be seen.

 

It was just very strange to witness Brad cozying up to this drake last night in what appeared very similar behavior to him soliciting and welcoming Piggly and Wiggly last fall.

 

All of these things, a series of "strange" events during recent and very strange days.  -- PCA

 

 

 

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"The Silent Majority" (Whose Voices Are Needed to Save Geese)

(Photos:  1-- Two of the grown goslings of Mama and Papa briefly enjoying grass at Great Lawn the other day and posing for numerous photos. 2--  Mama and Papa yesterday at Boat Lake in Central Park.)

 

In 1968 there was much political talk about the "Silent Majority" in this country.

 

The Silent Majority represented estimated percentage of those Americans not actively  involved in political causes of the day or marching in streets.  Just ordinary people routinely going through their lives seeking and appreciating relative peace and balance.  People generally not seeking to "get involved" in anything of political or cause nature.

 

I believe the same is true today as it was back then.  Despite thousands of OWS people marching in streets protesting a multitude of problems and despite those "bitching" about geese and attempting to blame the animals for every perceivable catastrophe from "feathers on the ground" to potential airline fatalities, the fact is most people like to live in relative peace and don't seek active involvement in social or political change.

 

I also believe that the silent majority in this country actually like and appreciate having geese and other wildlife in their local parks. 

 

Unfortunately, these people don't usually make news headlines -- as one 83-year-old woman was able to garner front page news yesterday from the Columbus Dispatch with her hatred for geese and desire to "get rid of them:"

 

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/05/12/minerva-park-finds-itself-endless-goose-chase.html

 

It is strange how the article casually mentions all the people "feeding" geese in the area. But, none of those people were interviewed.   Apparently, the geese lovers are deemed just as lowly as the animals they are feeding. -- Not worth interviewing.

 

But yes, that is usually the way.  "The squeaky wheel gets the oil."  Those who complain and whine loudly enough eventually attract government attention and media coverage, as well as they are usually the ones posting comments to said articles.

 

It is noteworthy to mention that out of the potentially thousand or more park goers I have seen over the years taking photographs of geese, cooing to them or even feeding geese, I have only encountered one couple hostile to the geese. -- Two people out of more than a thousand.

 

Pointing to the grazing goose family at Turtle Pond two years ago, the woman of the older couple snarled, "I don't know why the park doesn't get rid of those pesky geese!"

 

As might be expected, this one miserable, disgruntled and cranky woman was interviewed by a young journalist doing a "story" at the time for her university.

 

"The squeaky wheel got the oil."

 

Over the past few days at Central Park, it has been a different story.

 

A couple of days ago, two of the now grown goslings of Mama and Papa goose were briefly grazing at the Great Lawn.

 

Recognizing me, the two adventurous and trusting geese wandered over in my direction.

 

Numerous people, with smiles on faces, stopped in their tracks to take photos of the accommodating and seemingly "posing" geese.  This is something I have personally witnessed many hundreds of times over the years. -- People stopping to admire and take photos of geese.

 

But, it isn't "newsworthy."

 

Seemingly, only those who hate geese and want every one destroyed (like Senator Gillibrand or the old woman) make the news -- in Gillibrand's case, both national and local news.

 

Yesterday, while visiting with my two favorite geese, Mama and Papa at the Boat Lake, a young woman with a small Yorkie dog approached me.

 

"I watched as the geese swam across the lake to come up to you.  Do they know you?" she asked curiously.

 

"Oh, yes!" I laughed.  "I know these geese for more than two years. They raised a family of goslings at Turtle Pond in 2010.  Their babies are adults now of course, but they still fly around here."

 

"Oh, that is fascinating.  They seem so sweet!"

 

The young woman and I further discussed geese and other wildlife in the park for a few minutes. Realizing she was a person with a heart for geese, I then informed her of the current campaign to round up and kill geese all around New York City.

 

"Would you please take one of these fliers?" I asked, while offering the woman a Goosewatch leaflet.  ((27) GooseWatch NYC )   "The USDA will begin conducting goose roundups in parks next month.  We are asking that people be on the look-out and immediately report any roundup sightings...."

 

The woman suddenly burst into tears.

 

"Oh, I can't believe this!  It is so horrible!" she stammered through streaming tears.  Who could do such cruelty to such sweet birds?  I had NO idea!"

 

Trying then to console the young, professional woman, I offered that it is "unlikely that the USDA will come after these two old geese at the Boat Lake...."   Nevertheless, we still had to be vigilant.

 

The woman thanked me for the information and took the flier.  "I will make some calls," she promised, while walking away.  "This is completely unacceptable, regardless of the excuse and justification for it!"

 

What amazes me most in similar encounters like this one is exactly how many people in New York City, are completely unaware of the goose slaughters that have been occurring in our city for the last decade.  People who are otherwise, educated, aware and obviously care deeply about animals.

 

I truly believe these people represent the "Silent Majority" of our city.

 

But, if that be the case, the geese are literally dying for that unawareness and silence.

 

Following my visit with Mama and Papa yesterday, I returned to the small dock at Turtle Pond where I encountered other goose and wildlife lovers. More uplifting conversation and a couple of more fliers given out. 

 

Most pleasing of all however, are the two new signs posted on the dock:  "This dock for wildlife observation.  No Fishing allowed."

 

And while it may have been an incident of one fisherman hooking another while fishing off the dock that spurred the new signs, the "For wildlife observation" sentence tells me that we few "squeaking wheels" that protested the fishing in the location were ultimately responsible for those words and partially responsible for the signs being posted at all.

 

It is not "fun" to protest. It is not pleasant.  None of us want to be a "miserable, disgruntled crank." 

 

But, sometimes opening one's mouth and protesting is necessary.

 

None of the progressive laws and necessary social reforms of the past 50 years would have been achieved without social protest.

 

And if we hope to ultimately save any geese in New York City -- including Mama and Papa at Central Park and their now grown babies, then that Silent Majority is going to have to find a way to be "silent" no more.   

 

A few of us around the city willing to open our mouths and protest is simply not enough to stem  the wheels of destruction already well in motion.  -- PCA 

 

 

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Silent Drums A Blazing

Bad news seems to pour in during these lovely spring days like some juxtaposed, Tsunami.

 

At the top of the list today is news that the popular TV show, "Grey's Anatomy" will next week air, "Strike" -- an episode featuring a plane collision with birds resulting in high human casualty and loss. While not known if the "culprit" birds will be geese, (who actually rank very low in actual bird/plane collisions as article link below attests to), it appears the message and likely result of this program will be to needlessly invoke and heighten public fear about potential airline collisions with birds and promulgate the myth that such strikes are common and usually result in plane crashes and high human casualty.

 

The actual facts are that even when airliners collide with birds, they rarely if ever "crash" and no one has died on a commercial airliner following a collision with Canada geese.  Most bird strikes cause no substantical damage and in almost all cases, planes continue on trips or, in more extreme instances, return safely to airports.

 

Of course there is the one, "Miracle on the Hudson" incident in which the plane did collide with two geese and successfully averted a tragedy.  But, even flight 1549 must be put into perspective: 

 

* This was one flight out of billions that traverse our skies. 

 

*  The two geese were migratory geese from Labrador, Canada who had nothing to do with "resident" geese "loafing" in NYC parks and rarely going anywhere.

 

*  The particular airliner had mechanical issues on previous flight and nearly had to emergency land.

 

*  The birds were apparently visible on radar, but for whatever reason, this was not sufficient enough to avert near tragedy.

 

Personally, I believe the Miracle on the Hudson incident to be a kind of "perfect storm" of bizarre events that led to a one-in-a-billion occurrence.

 

But, it has provided good rationale for a seemingly never ending "war" on Canada geese and apparently excellent fodder to TV producers and executives for, "May sweeps" ratings.

 

Other bad news for geese this week is the latest document report from the USDA:

 

USDA - APHIS - Regulations and Assessments - Wildlife Damage Management

 

While this is very cumbersome and laborious material to wade through, it will be necessary to do so over coming weeks in order to prepare some meaningful and relative "comment" before June 11th.

 

Nevertheless, the bottom line is that regardless of what anyone comments to this "management" plan, the wheels are already in motion for it. We can hope to influence in some small way, but the plan itself moves forward.

 

It is speculated that the fictional TV show to air next week to millions across the country will further enhance the drum beat to round up and kill the geese. (Just like drumbeats of "Weapons of Mass Destruction" leading up to war in Iraq, 11 years ago.)  The timing of the Grey's Anatomy program could not in fact, be better -- just a few weeks before scheduled Canada goose roundups in the crown jewel of cities -- New York City.  .

 

Perfect Storms, indeed.  They just seem to keep coming.

 

Nevertheless, not to be entirely "doom and gloom" on this sunny spring day, there was one excellent piece of journalism to come out very recently: 

 

 http://animaltourism.com/news/2012/05/09/gilibrand-rushes-killing-geese-at-refuge-near-jfk-where-they-havent-hit-a-plane-in-nearly-2-years

 

The journalist putting this piece together made the effort and took the time to look up actual government statistics involving bird strikes with planes in NYC (particularly, Canada geese).  When looking at actual data, it is hard to understand the justifications for the relentless war against Canada geese. (This article is one to save for quick and accurate access to fact and stats.)

 

It seems the goose roundup and kill campaigns are conducted more for protection from possible multi-million dollar lawsuits arising out of any potential bird/airline collision. (Presumably one could sue FAA, airline carrier, or even city if suffering damage, loss or emotional trauma from such potential collision.) The killings are also seemingly done for political grandstanding and opportunity (particularly for one New York Senator) and "make work" (and money) for USDA "Wildlife Services" -- whose main expertise is killing animals. 

 

But, the slaughter of thousands of resident geese in New York City has virtually nothing to do with actual airline safety as the above article and statistical information demonstrates.

 

Yet, despite actual facts, the "perfect storm" continues.

 

I truly fear for the few pitiful geese being observed in Central Park these days.

 

Even Mama and Papa goose (pictured) -- who in fact, never leave the Boat Lake cannot be assumed to be "safe."

 

Little do the geese know that perfect storms don't actually arrive in the dead of winter, but rather in the stillness and silent tiptoes of a lazy summer morning in the park.

 

Silent drums a blazing. -- PCA

 

 

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