(Photo: Danny last night at Harlem Meer. A solitary goose among 100 ducks.)
The Goal is to "Eradicate" (Resident Canada Geese)
"Hunters' role in these seasons is not to conserve, it's to eradicate."
The stunning words above are from a current outdoors column about the hunting of resident Canada geese:
If one really wants to know what the long term goals are for wildlife, one only needs to read the hunting articles.
Politicians, officials and USDA Wildlife Services will never use the term, "eradicate" to refer to the goals for resident Canada geese. However, most newspaper articles and actions point to that direction.
Hunters are simply more brash and direct in telling like it is.
Even to the point of putting the word, "eradicate" in actual print.
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"Eradication" Except for One
If one walks through Central Park these days it might be easy to think all Canada geese have been "eradicated" -- well, except that is, for one.
Danny, the lone goose at Harlem Meer continues to hold his own on a watercourse that is otherwise loaded with ducks.
A couple of weeks ago, most of the water at the Meer was drained in effort presumably to clean up some of the mud and debris that had accumulated along the edges and bottom of the lake.
At that time, there were not a whole lot of mallards at the Meer as they tend to leave any time there are changes not to their liking.
But, since the lake was replenished back up to normal levels, the mallards have returned -- and then some.
The fresh, clean water must be particularly inviting and the word is apparently out among the mallards of Central Park.
There are as many as 70 to 100 mallards at Harlem Meer right now -- the most I have seen at the location in perhaps years.
Last week, a couple of birders remarked that there were hardly any mallards at Turtle Pond.
"That's because they apparently have all taken off for Harlem Meer since the lake was dredged and then refilled. Fussy little critters apparently!" I laughed.
But, the strange part in all this is that there are hardly any geese at the Meer -- except for the one lone goose without a flock.
Geese and ducks frequently flock together. Water that would be appealing to ducks would also be appealing to geese.
And in past years there would normally be many resident geese at Harlem Meer this time of year.
But, for more than a month now there has only been the one goose, Danny at Harlem Meer. This is downright bizarre -- especially with the recent influx of mallards.
Nevertheless, despite the hardship of not having his own family around (or any geese) to interact and roost with, Danny is slowly adjusting to being a solitary goose among 100 ducks.
Danny has no choice other than to "adjust" as it is at least several months away before the migratory geese can be expected to show up in Central Park just prior to the winter setting in.
"Eradication" of resident Canada geese.
In New York City, that appears to be nearly the case already. -- PCA
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