(Photos: 1-- Jessie, "loner" goose at Harlem Mere)
Migrating Geese a Sign of Winter
It is ironic and disheartening that most of the news columns published about bird activities and migrations comes form hunters. (Can't help wondering what that says about the rest of us non-hunters?) Even more disheartening is the information that last year, more snow geese were killed by hunters in New York than even Pennsylvania. That comes as a surprise -- though perhaps it shouldn't considering my state's "war on Canada geese."
Apparently, the war extends to other geese as well:
Nevertheless, it does seem that all geese are indeed, moving about these days.
Since the new year began, I have been hearing and seeing much Canada goose activity over Central Park at night.
It seems that many geese have presumably left the frozen watercourses of the Arctic and Canada now to migrate to those areas south with still open water.
As previously noted, many geese (and mallards) are currently wintering at Central Park's Jackie Onassis Reservoir.
Although in previous years, the Reservoir would nearly freeze over in winter, this year it has so far, remained entirely open.
Other watercourses in Central Park are partially frozen -- including, Harlem Mere. However, with warmer temperatures predicted for next week, there is good possibility the other lakes and ponds of CP will entirely or nearly thaw.
Geese wintering in Central Park thus have reason to "pond hop" according to ice formations on lakes. Open waters might potentially attract other migrating geese and waterfowl as well, though so far, I personally don't see much evidence of that.
Most of the geese seen and heard over the past week are presumably passing through New York City en route to somewhere further south.
Goose numbers at Harlem Mere have remained low or non-existent since winter began, though last night there were two goose families there (about 15 geese in all). That is down from nearly 100 geese last winter.
Mallard numbers at Harlem Mere are, however, about the same as last year.
As long as the lake doesn't entirely freeze over, mallard numbers seem to remain fairly steady -- unlike fluctuating goose counts from year to year.
I am just grateful and happy to see any geese flying over and staying in Central Park.
It seems testimony to the smarts and resiliency of these magnificent birds despite humans never-ending and intolerant "war" on them.
The sights and sounds of Canada geese flying over our parks give some semblance of hope for the future.
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Opportunity for Jessie?
With one goose family staying more than a few days and another one apparently arriving yesterday, Jessie (the loner Canada goose at the Mere) has seemingly recognized herself to be a goose over the past few days,
Its been good to see Jessie hanging out and swimming with the other geese -- though she still maintains a respectable distance from other goose families most of the time.
The reason I am able to differentiate and recognize Jessie from the other geese is because (in addition to keeping some distance away), she is a little smaller than the other geese and she also has a strange indentation on the lower front side of her neck (crop area) -- as if at some point she had been shot with a pellet gun or sustained other injury.
At first I was concerned when noting the strange demarcation, but since Jessie is eating, swimming and presumably capable of flying, I am guessing now that it might be par for the course of being a goose these days.
Its unfortunately not that unusual to see some geese who are banged up in some way either with injured feet, wings or "strange indentations" on the body somewhere. It is not the first time seeing a goose in this condition.
Though it is too early to say, I am hoping that eventually Jessie is assimilated into another goose family though I don't see that happening immediately. For assimilation to actually occur, a goose family would have to hang around a while at the Mere. Jessie (as she is doing now) would "tag along" for a while and the goose family would eventually send signals that she is
being accepted into the flock though at lower rank than actual family members.
Unfortunately, to this point, no other goose families have hung around at Harlem Mere more than a few days and that is simply not enough time for acceptance and assimilation of Jessie.
But, Jessie cannot continue to live the rest of her life as a duck.
Hopefully, the new geese stay a while for Jessie's sake, if not my own.
Crossing my fingers to keep seeing geese, but in this case, for mostly unselfish reasons.
I am hoping they are opportunity for Jessie to again be a goose. -- PCA
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