(Photos: 1-- Annie perched, relaxed and preening last night on small island rock at Turtle Pond, 2-- The mallards returned to favorite perch at Turtle Pond. 3-- "Naughty" raccoon returned from vacation?)
"What a difference a day makes."
One of the things learned when observing nature and wildlife on a daily basis, is that things are never exactly the same from one day to the next.
Following a rain storm the other night, I could not find one mallard at Turtle Pond in Central Park.
Yesterday, the weather was fair and sunny and the mallards were back on what seems to be their favorite perch. -- The rock formation to the east side of Turtle Pond.
But, what was puzzling, was that Annie, the lone goose at the pond was nowhere near the rock as she normally is.
Had Annie flown away?
Since Annie had been at Turtle Pond for at least two weeks, it seemed strange that she would suddenly up and leave. But, if seeking other geese, that might be the logical thing to do since geese are not normally "solitary" birds.
Once again, I could not be sure.
However, when walking to the west side of Turtle Pond, it was surprising to find Annie perched on the small "island" rock that Mama and Papa goose used to so frequently sit when they sought peace and relaxation.
Annie was preening her feathers and looked perfectly secure and content.
It was good to realize Annie is exploring and discovering her environment more. These are signs of greater comfort and adaptation to her new and obviously, unusual circumstances.
Indeed, one of the primary things learned about Canada geese over the years, is that they, like coyotes, can seemingly adapt to anything -- even the stress of being alone and without other geese -- if they have to.
Apparently though the prospect of living without other geese was not so acceptable to either Danny at Harlem Meer or the one goose at the Boat Lake, alone since Papa goose's family flew out more than a week ago.
Both ganders have since left their solitary locations.
I am guessing (though again, cannot be sure) that since ganders usually decide when and where to fly with their flocks, perhaps the male geese are a little more confident flying solo or perhaps their sense of adventure and risk taking is slightly greater than females.
Another possibility might be that ganders simply have a harder time being alone and females are slightly more independent.
Still, a third possibility is that the two geese were harassed and forced to leave, though one imagines were that the case, Annie would have been likewise harassed.
In any event, the "goose count" number at Central Park right now seems to be down to a very lonely (and dwindling) "one."
Nevertheless, I still don't know for certain, whether that is due to natural circumstances of geese moving around this time of year or that the couple of dozen geese in Central Park following the molt where harassed out, as occurred last year and previous years.
I suspect some harassment was conducted as the goose numbers during this summer's molt were comparable to last year's. That would also explain more easily, geese becoming separated from their flocks.
The question now is, will harassment be used against one goose in Central Park?
As preposterous as that sounds, I don't in fact know that any number of geese is considered "too low" for harassment or even culling.
A family of five geese were targeted for "culling" in a British community two weeks ago. Fortunately, some of the residents protested and it was later decided to round up and relocate the geese:
In New York City, as few as 7 geese in a location have been rounded up and sent to slaughter by USDA. And last year, as few as 6 geese (at Harlem Meer) were harassed out of Central Park following the summer molt.
Presumably, contracts are contracts -- even when numbers of "target" animals are so low, such measures would normally not be conducted by any stretch of common sense.
With all these things in mind, it is possible (though highly unlikely) that one goose could be "harassed" out of Central Park.
Harassment when employed, raises, in fact, a whole lot of questions -- and in some instances, misinterpretation and even paranoia.
I now believe it was misinterpretation of harassment measures that resulted in the strange "stories" heard over the past couple of months.
Stories reporting a "goose roundup at the Reservoir" and ducks "gotten rid of" at the Boat Lake.
It is likely the vendor working the Bethesda Fountain area in Central Park didn't know a duck from a goose and both misunderstood and misreported goose harassment as "getting rid of the ducks." (Then again, when goose harassment is conducted, it usually scares off the mallards and other waterfowl with the geese.)
The same with the bizarre story about "geese being rounded up at the Reservoir" which was told to me by an otherwise, educated and professional type woman.
The fact is, it would be extremely difficult to round up geese at the Reservoir -- even when the geese are molting. The Jackie Onassia Reservoir is surrounded entirely by rocky inclines. There is no flat grass or ground in which to set up corrals.
Moreover, the only times there has been sizable populations of geese at the Reservoir were during and following winter migrations. -- Times when geese can fly.
Migratory geese naturally leave at the very first signs of spring -- usually in late February.
But, as noted, one of the problems with harassment (when witnessed) is that it is open to misinterpretation, as well as it creates a kind of distrust and "paranoia" insofar as a park's attitude towards wildlife.
Additionally, (and perhaps most frustrating of all) harassment creates confusion in terms of being able to decipher what is "natural" behavior in targeted animals and what is not.
The other day I wrote, "The more one learns, the less one actually knows."
This followed the realization (as reported below) that "private firms" can be hired and contracted to actually round up and kill geese as what occurred recently in a Voorshead, New Jersey community:
Disturbing news like this opens up possibility that no matter how seemingly "bizarre and off the wall," reports of goose roundups and killings from local parks could be true even if not specifically targeted by the USDA.
I had to question, Could "management" of Central Park geese actually be more than harassment alone? What if park management contracted with a private company for goose killings as they have contracted with private companies for goose harassment?
The bottom line to both harassment and culling is that both are designed to basically "empty" a location of Canada geese.
Perhaps that is why some people have a hard time deciphering between the two.
It is also why some people (like myself) question such measures of intolerance possibly spreading to other park wildlife, such as raccoons or even mallards.
But, on the latter two species, there was good news last night.
The ducks were all fine and in their usual spots.
And two families of "missing" raccoons finally turned up last night in familiar location.
I had not seen the raccoons in at least six weeks, nor any signs of them. (Usually the "calling cards" of raccoons are rummaged trash and the occasional overturned garbage can. Apparently, Central Park Conservancy has not yet tried, "mint" coated garbage bags which are quite effective in detracting "naughty" raccoons and other critters.)
I am not sure where the two raccoon families were hiding out over the past six weeks, but it was nice to see them again.
Or, perhaps they were not hiding at all.
Perhaps, like humans in summer, they packed up the "kids" and took them on holiday for a while.
I am hoping the two familiar goose families are also on brief "holiday" and will again be back some weeks from now.
And presuming that to be the case, there will be one very happy goose at Turtle Pond.
Annie may be a "rock and an island" for now, but one suspects she would much rather just be a goose. -- PCA
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