October (Resident) Goose Migrations and Old Pals

(Photo:  Old pal, "Whiteface" from the Central Park Reservoir this past summer)

Reunions with old friends are a particularly nice occurrence in life.

Last night I had opportunity to see again, my old goose pals who had molted at the Central Park Reservoir this past summer.

How do I know the flock of 8 geese were the same who spent the summer molt at the Jackie Onassis Reservoir? 

Because Whiteface was among them.

"Whiteface" is a Canada goose who like his name implies, has a boldly striking, white face.

In fact I am not sure if Whiteface is a full Canada goose, a hybrid or possibly even another species of goose. 

Whiteface has a distinctly lower pitch and louder "honk" than the typical Canada goose and slightly different and flatter coloring.

Moreover, Whiteface's place and seemingly "lower status" in the gaggle appears to be more of an outsider than an actual family member.  Part of me wonders if Whiteface was a "loner" or lost goose who simply attached to and was accepted by this Canada goose family?

Anything is possible.

I encountered Whiteface and his flock of 7 geese at Harlem Meer last night.

It was a very welcomed surprise as geese have not been consistently present or plentiful at Harlem Meer since last winter.

No geese molted at the Meer over the summer and since then only a few have been spotted at different times, no gaggles staying more than a couple of days.

I don't know that Whiteface and company will stay more than a day or two like the others. 

But, since the Fishing Rules signs recently went up at the Meer as well as enforcement of the rules, the lake is a much more hospitable and peaceful place for waterfowl and other wildlife.

(As previously noted, it is almost as if geese can actually read signs. -- It obviously didn't take long for the Reservoir geese to figure out that Harlem Meer was a cool place to drop by these days and possibly stay a while.)

When arriving to the Meer last night, the geese were relaxing on the water alongside the mallards.

But, like the new geese at the Boat Lake, Whiteface's gaggle appeared to either recognize me or to be at least, mildly curious.

Slowly, they approached and came upon the embankment, Whiteface being the last one to cautiously embark.

Most of the gaggle stood around curiously sizing up the situation.

Whiteface was decidedly more high strung and nervous than the others. -- At one point, letting out a loud honk and flying back to the water.

The other geese followed his lead and joined Whiteface in the lake.

But, then a couple of minutes later they all boldly returned to the embankment.

It was a funny and curious situation that reminded me of the night before.

Only this time I knew who the geese actually were and they were not too sure about me.

"She looks vaguely familiar, but we can't exactly place her."

Granted, I never got to "know" the Reservoir geese very well over the summer as due to the landscaping, they were forced to remain in the water throughout the molt and we could never see each other up close and personal.

As soon as the gaggle grew in their flight feathers, they left the Reservoir in late July and I had not seen the family group since.

All of this brings up the question of where resident Central Park geese actually go when they complete the molt?

Starting in mid July, all the Central Park resident geese eventually left -- including Mama and Papa from the Boat Lake -- and I have no idea where they spent the months from August through part of October.

But, wherever it was, the eating must have been real good.

Like the 8 geese seen at the Boat Lake on Sunday, the Reservoir geese appeared plump, lively, slick and ready to face a potentially brutal winter.

Not at all similar to the way I remembered them at the Reservoir when going through the molt.

At that time they (and all the other molting geese) appeared raggedy, lethargic and ill.

It certainly gives one pause for thought to consider that it is molting geese who are rounded up by USDA in the summertime, slaughtered and "donated to food banks."  

The geese are actually feverish during that period of time.

Mama goose at the Boat Lake was so sickly that her wings literally dragged along the ground and appeared to be broken.

Six weeks later, Mama was healthy again and flying with her mate and flock.

The geese are almost unrecognizable this time of year compared to their sickly and weak images of the summer molt.

It is no small irony that government officials consider sickly molting geese healthy bounty for downtrodden humans.   Even hunters don't eat molting geese.

Nevertheless, ironies and mysteries (of where geese go when completing the summer molt) aside, it was simply sweet and wonderful to reunite with old pals again.

I said to Whiteface and his 7 flock mates, "Hey, its wonderful to see you guys again! You are looking GREAT!"

But, they were too busy trying to figure out who I actually was to reply back -- as I had been the night before with the new Boat Lake geese. 

The October migrations are in full swing now -- even for our "resident" NYC geese.

Lianna and I now eagerly await the anticipated return of Mama and Papa and their gaggle.

Any day now, God willing.   -- PCA

                                                          


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