Spring has Sprung -- "Get the Flock Out!"

Canada goose, Central Park.  Here and then gone. Geese get their "flying papers" from city parks as weather warms.

 Ah, the first signs of spring!

New buds on trees, temperatures finally starting to warm, human activity returning to the park and Geese ("Get the Flock Out") Police.

I saw the white van with the fascinating logo early Sunday morning in Central Park.

It appeared to be doing a survey of the goose population in the park. First observed driving around Harlem Meer and some time later, at Turtle Pond and the Boat Lake.

At that time, there were about 25 geese at the Meer, 2 geese at Turtle Pond and perhaps a couple of dozen geese at the Boat Lake.

Two days later, there are few geese to be seen anywhere in the park.

Last night, I noticed a dramatic reduction in not only the geese at Harlem Meer, but also, the mallards who numbered about half of what they normally do.

I counted only 4 geese.

My friend, Liliana who monitors the birds at the Boat Lake reported seeing only 4 geese there yesterday.

Presumably, these geese (unless acclimated to harassment) will also be gone within a week or two.

I am at loss at what exactly to say about this.

Part of me obviously hates it.

Canada geese are harassed almost everywhere these days.  And when they are not being harassed, they are being shot at or rounded up and slaughtered.

Where exactly are the birds supposed to go? 

Certainly not to "Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge" where, last summer, more than 700 Canada geese were rounded up and slaughtered.

With drought effecting half the country, much of natural wetlands destroyed or developed, and so-called "refuges" turned into slaughterhouses,  it seems geese will need to set up house in shopping malls or on people's lawns and swimming pools.

Ah, I can already hear the complaints.

And that is what of course accounts for the harassment in Central Park.

Those people, who during the nice weather, show up to complain about any wildlife mysteriously still in a park.

Them -- and the public officials who declare "war" on Canada geese or any wildlife that dares show up in a city park or wildlife "refuge."

Yes, the geese need to be chased out of Central Park, because were they to congregate there over the summer, they would surely be subjected to a USDA "Wildlife Services" slaughter.

"Get the flock out!"

What a cute turn of phrase.   21st century play on words and curse.

We love God, but cannot tolerate His creations (One reason I don't go to church anymore).

Ah yes, spring has sprung.

And what was seemingly a wildlife refuge over the harsh winter is soon to become simply a greener version of Times Square.

That only I could turn back the clock a couple of months to the good old days of ice, winds, blizzard and hurricane.  

Winter, the season of ironic peace.

But, now it is spring.

Time to "Get the flock out!"  -- PCA

                                                                 


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