(Photo: Mama goose at the Boat Lake. Safe for the moment. But for how long?)
Absolutely sickening news video today from Virginia Beach, Virginia where on Friday, dozens of geese and their goslings were systematically rounded up by the USDA Wildlife (Extermination) Services, crated and slated to be gassed.
According to the reporter and one eyewitness, workers for the USDA held hands over the mouths of captured geese and goslings in effort to stifle their terrified honks and squeals.
All of this due to the complains of a few ignorant battle-axes in the community who referred to the geese as "predators" that would soon "peck someone's eye out."
Well, why not say these things?
Certainly, we have heard everything else against the geese, so why not add more histrionics to the pile?
Truth and facts went out the window a long time ago when the subject became geese.
What always stuns one to see articles and videos like these is the vitriol against the geese by people who apparently bought homes situated on or near water who apparently have no tolerance for waterfowl.
Wouldn't waterfowl naturally come with the territory of water?
That is like me going to the Super Bowl and then complaining about noise and crowds.
One wonders too, why communities like these apparently never heard of egg addling?
It is quite literally, birth control for geese and is easy to find information on just my googling goose control.
But, regardless of all the information and proven methods for humane goose population control, it seems the easiest thing to do is call USDA Wildlife (Extermination) Services and invite them in with their gas chambers.
That so old battle-axes can be "happy" on their pristine lakefront properties that are completely devoid of waterfowl.
Speaking of "devoid of waterfowl," that is the way the Reservoir and Boat Lake initially appeared in Central Park last night shortly following a rain storm.
My heart raced and my head went into a kind of panic looking at the empty watercourses.
But, fortunately, after walking around the entire Boat Lake and the Reservoir, I eventually found Buster, Bonnie and their kids, as well as Mama and Papa and their family and the dozen or so geese safely at the Reservoir.
But, it makes me wonder how I would be able to "take it" should the USDA actually round up all "my" geese in a week or two?
I don't think I could take it at all.
Am feeling somewhat down and in dread today. In dread of the future. One way or the other the geese will eventually be "gone" from Central Park and virtually everywhere else in New York City.
It seems everything one loves or allows bond and connection with is transient, impermanent or taken away.
All so disgruntled, battle-axes can sing. -- PCA
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2 comments:
This was such a very well worded posting that got to the center of the issue: "old battle-axes living on of all things, waterfront properties and wanting it to be devoid of all water fowl." My heart breaks for those who for so long enjoyed the real things is life, which included being able to covort with the geese and enjoy watching them. What a sad testimony to mankind (and woman-kin) when all they can focus in on in their middle age and old age is going to war with the urban wildlife around them. So sad to think they most likely are my generation, which was the former hippies of the '60's who becried love, and peace and harmony with nature, now turned into WORSE examples of intollerance than ever their PARENTS would have come up with. Shame on you. You have truly SOLD OUT, haven't you???
Thank you for your comment. Please feel free to share this or any blog post links around.
While I used the term, "Battle-Axes" which I believe perfectly applies, I did not limit that to a particularly age group.
I meet many people of the baby bommer generation (which by the way, includes myself) who care deeply for the geese and are activily involved in trying to save them.
Of course it is true that many of the people whining about geese are also of "our" generation which makes one wonder of the principles we actually adopted and practiced in our lives.
But, like anything else, the few bad apples should not be thought to represent the bunch.
I think society as a whole has lost connection to nature and the wildlife around us and that is a problem that truly needs to be addressed. -- Which basically is the reason for this blog.
As said, please feel free to share links of posts you like elsewhere. We need to spread the word. Thanks again for taking the time to post comment!
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