One of the intriguing things about Canada geese are their tight family units and their devotion to each other. Geese are one of the few species that truly "mate for life" and it has been documented that if one goose of a mated pair dies, the partner will often be observed mourning over the body.
One of the main reasons why the young of Canada geese survive so well is because both parents are involved in the raising and protection of their goslings. Canada geese are also known to readily take in and "adopt" goslings who are not their own.
Finally, unlike most other wild species whose focus and devotion are primarily among members of their own kind, Canada geese will readily relate to and peacefully interact with unrelated species. -- Particularly humans.
They are a little like dogs and cats in that respect -- though without the thousands of years of domestication by humans.
For these reasons and more, many people enjoy and regard Canada geese almost as they would, members of their own families.
This is particularly true for many senior citizens whose own mates might have passed or whose adult kids might have moved to other parts of the country.
The geese become like a substitute "family" -- especially since the animals so reflect and exemplify everything we normally associate with ideal human family and human values.
I was therefore not greatly surprised yesterday when talking with another woman (who appreciates and loves the geese in Central Park as I do) who told me about a friend of hers.
"I met my friend this morning and she was crying and extremely upset!" Liana told me, sounding very concerned. "She said that when she went to see her geese by the Hudson River yesterday, they were gone!"
"Gone?" I asked. "Do you know what area around the Hudson this specifically was? The USDA is currently rounding up geese around the city, but geese also swim around."
"I don't know the specific area, but I will ask her," Liana replied. "But, my friend said the geese are always there! There are at least two families with goslings. My friend has been following and feeding these geese since last winter. She is heartbroken and could not stop crying. The geese are family to her! She even has names for them."
Later in the conversation Liana told me her friend lost her husband two years ago and her grown son lives in California. If the geese became "family" to the woman, there is a fairly clear reason why.
Not only do geese exemplify the ideals of (human) family life, but they are quite welcoming of humans into those lives.
I could of course not determine from the scant information provided, whether or not the geese from somewhere around the Hudson River were actually rounded up by the USDA or the geese simply took a swim further down or upstream. (Hopefully, it is the latter.)
The Hudson River is, after all, not like a lake, pond or Reservoir that one can easily walk around and fully check out.
But, what mostly came out of that conversation (to me) was the deep attachment that many people form with Canada geese in and around city parks or even living on a river.
I don't believe that is something that the USDA, city agencies and least of all, the politicians "get" to any degree at all.
Unfortunately, the people like Liana and her friend (older people who generally have lost family and loved ones, one way or the other) usually don't have computers, cell phones, Ipads or even cameras. Nor do they attend protests or write emails or text messages to legislators. They are thus pretty much "invisible" to the powers that be and the decision makers. (These days if you are not electronically "connected" you pretty much don't exist.)
These predominantly older people just happen to love and connect to their geese (and other birds and animals of our parks) like "family."
Being somewhat in that boat myself, (i.e. older with loved ones living on the other side of the country), I fully appreciate, relate to and understand that dynamic as it applies to myself.
The only difference is I have a computer and a camera.
I obviously use my computer and camera to share stories like this and attempt to get across the message that life is not just about our technological advances, exercise routines, diets, fashions, movies or travels, but for some of us, it is about much more.
Its sometimes about connecting to family, however and wherever you may find it.
It is a known fact that when USDA Death Services rounds up geese, they are in fact, rounding up mates and entire families.
But, do they also realize that to some people, those geese are their families?
And no, USDA and politicians, "families" are never truly replaced.
Especially when those family members have names. -- PCA
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