"Danger: Thin Ice"

Dangers to waterfowl in winter:  Frozen lakes, lowered food supplies, freezing temperatures -- and off leash dogs.

The signs are posted around all lakes and ponds of Central Park in winter:

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"Danger: Thin Ice."

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Despite that, there are too many dog owners who think it cute or funny when their dogs "chase the birds" on ice.

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What inevitably follows however are news stories of the dogs falling through ice and in this particular case, the owner attempting to rescue her pet and both having to be rescued out of frigid water.

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http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/dog-walker-relives-moment-fell-central-park-ice-article-1.1593035

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(Regarding the story above, I personally don't buy the woman's story of a "frozen" leash buckle resulting in the dog getting away from her. Presumably, she has to offer some excuse for her dog being off leash at 10AM -- a time dogs are supposed to be leashed.)

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I have, in the past, personally warned dog owners of this danger and in one case was told by a man that if his dog fell through ice, he would "simply call 911" -- as if emergency workers have nothing better to do.

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Past stories on this blog of waterfowl attacks by off leash dogs allowed in park lakes have documented several duck injuries and in two cases, death of a mallard and a goose.  

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It is easy to know these irresponsible actions by some dog owners still occur at Harlem Meer (site of latest dog-falling-through-ice incident) simply by observing the extremely nervous, jumpy behavior of the ducks (and presently one goose) every time someone passes by with a dog -- including well behaved dogs on leashes.

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The birds immediately bolt or fly to the middle of the lake in what appears sheer panic. (Of course some of this extreme behavior might be attributable to Geese Police which for nearly a year, uses dogs to harass any geese at Harlem Meer and other Central Park lakes and ponds.)

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This is in fact how I know the loner goose ("Bandy"), presently at Harlem Meer can fly (something one normally questions when noting a Canada goose failing to fly out with her flock). She and all the mallards flew as if shot out of a cannon last night when a man walked by with a leashed dog more than 50 feet away.

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Considering the immense challenges to all wildlife and birds of this particularly bitter winter in New York, that there are still people who think its "cute" or acceptable that their dogs harass and add to the stresses of these animals is disgusting to say the least.

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Call me callous, but while feeling some sympathy for the dogs who, with general encouragement from owners, become ultimate victims of their aggressions against waterfowl, I feel no sympathy at all for the humans.

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The wildlife of our parks does not exist for the self-entitlement abuse of some dog owners and their dogs anymore than emergency services exist solely for their rescue when failing to heed important warnings.  -- PCA

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The Big Chill, a Long Chill in New York City

Snow covered Central Park

Mallards huddled on ice at Jackie Onassis Reservoir.

Icy chill in the air.

Lone (banded) Canada goose at Harlem Meer sharing ice and treat with mallards.

It's hard to believe winter is only one third over.

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It seems like months we have been dealing with sub-freezing temperatures, cutting winds and had to don winter gear from gloves, to boots to scarves and hats.

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Already in New York City, snow fall has surpassed its normal amounts for the entire winter (25 inches).  At this point, new snow is falling upon old snow and new ice forming on old ice.

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The Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park is nearly 90% frozen over -- something that rarely occurs in this normally favorite wintering watercourse for hundreds of ducks, geese and gulls.

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http://www.chattanoogan.com/2014/1/7/266888/Cold-Snap-Will-Be-A-Killer-For-Birds.aspx

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At Harlem Meer in Central Park, there is surprisingly still open water on an otherwise frozen lake.

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But, one suspects some man-made intervention (such as pumping in of steam or warm water) for that as the Meer was entirely iced over when it was as balmy as 50 degrees.  Perhaps concern for the survival of the fish and turtles at the Meer necessitated action to keep part of the lake open water and allow oxygen to the marine life below.

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Despite large pools of open water at the Meer, most of the mallards have vacated as have all but one of the Canada geese.

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Canada geese have also left the Reservoir (again) over the past few days.

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Throughout the past month, wintering geese at the Reservoir have demonstrated a pattern of seemingly knowing in advance when weather and temperatures are about to plunge south and they generally take off a day or two beforehand.

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But, I have yet to figure out where the geese and many of the mallards actually go before the deep freeze or snow storms actually set in.

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Usually they return to Central Park when temperatures stabilize to near normal again.

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"Normal" daytime temperature for New York City this time of year is 38 degrees.

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We have been far below that for most of the month -- even diving to single-digit temperatures (so far) six days in January.  We hit as low as 4 degrees this month -- a temperature not experienced in NYC since 2004.

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With such unusually harsh and enduring weather condition, it has been difficult to predict and speculate waterfowl behavior.  Normally for example, the wintering geese stay at the Reservoir until about mid February and then take off for their normal warm weather habitats.

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But, as noted the geese have been flying about this winter (here one day and gone the next) and it is impossible to know at this point if the geese will even return -- though guess is that they will.

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Temperature by the end of next week is predicted to warm up to freezing -- 32 degrees.

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In experiencing this unusually bitter winter in New York City (and throughout most of the country) I can only be eternally grateful that the "fab four" domestic ducks were rescued from Harlem Meer just days before the first deep freeze and first snow storm arrived.

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Its highly unlikely the flightless domestics would have survived -- especially when the Meer was entirely iced over for more than a week and abandoned by all the waterfowl. 

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The big chill in NYC has also been a very long chill this winter.

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Hard to believe it is only 1/3 over. -- PCA

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Reckonings and Politically Smart Canada Geese?

After the snow storm, Canada geese return to Jackie Onassis Reservoir last night in Central Park.

"Baby, its cold, but we will prevail!"

New mayor of New York City, not as prepared for snow storm as Canada geese.  Unplowed streets outside Guggenheim Museum on Upper East Side of Manhattan last night 24 hours following storm.

Side streets of Upper East Side Manhattan appearing unplowed a full day after storm.

 An Eventual Day of Reckoning? 

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"People are just being too emotional about the dolphins," says the fisherman.  "They want to protect them because they're cute and clever."

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The above quote is from an Anderson Cooper news video covering the annual dolphin slaughter currently occurring in Japan.

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 (49) CNN on Taji"s Evil Secret - Kandace AlePhant

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It's particularly interesting because these are exactly the same words and argument some of us received when attempting to recently speak up for the 2,200 wild swans of New York slated to be "eliminated" by 2025.

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The irony is that such argument occurred on the "New York Birders" facebook page -- a site one would presume to be in the corner of swans and other birds on a government slaughter list.

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https://www.facebook.com/groups/NYBirders/

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The fact is that in nearly every instance of people attempting to speak up for animal justice and advocating for protection over slaughter, accusations of "emotionalism" are sure to follow as well as attempts to write off legitimate grievances to the animal victims being "cute," "pretty" or character in a Disney film.

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The only reason animal abusers are able to get away with such accusation and dismissal is because the animal victims cannot speak for themselves.

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God help the human race the day scientists, researchers and documentarians are finally able to decipher animal language.

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Such day is actually not that far off -- particularly for dolphins, whales, chimpanzees, elephants and many other species.

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But, it is a day the human race should dread as with animals' abilities to communicate and actually be understood, will fall our rationalizations for brutalizing and massacring them.  

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Canada Geese Smarter than New Mayor in Figuring Out Snow Storms?

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Speaking of animal language and communications, among some of the most vocal animals are Canada geese.

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Lacking high tech, scientific equipment, I personally am unable to decipher exactly what geese are saying to each other.  But over the past couple of months, I have been privy to what sounds like variable and highly complex "language" among the thousands of geese who either migrated through the Central Park (Jackie Onassis) Reservoir two months ago or have been wintering there over the past 5 to 6 weeks.

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Though they may often appear as one big, random group of birds on the water, the geese are actually broken up into different and distinct family groups or flocks.  The flocks communicate with each other and this is especially true just prior to flying out somewhere or immediately upon flying into Reservoir.

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Prior to each snow storm this winter, the geese have left the Reservoir, only to return a day or two later.

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The geese returned to the Reservoir last night -- all two hundred of them!

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No worse for the wear of the storm, they were nevertheless very chatty last night with much honking and communication occurring among members of different flocks.

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Not sure what the geese were "discussing," but it might have been strategies for what to do when Reservoir freezes over (which it is in process of doing now).

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But, regardless of what happens, I am confident the "honkers" will figure it out.

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They already know what to do prior to arrival of severe storms -- though they don't tell me where they go.

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Apparently the geese know better what to do during snow storms than our new Mayor. 

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http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/23/nyregion/east-coast-storm-brings-snow-and-disruptions-to-the-new-york-region.html?_r=0

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"Tale of Two Cities" indeed.  Photos taken last night of unplowed streets on the Upper East Side of Manhattan a full 24 hours after snow storm suggest possible "payback" for lack of general support for deBlasio from this region of the city during election campaign.

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Perhaps deBlasio should confer with Canada geese before the next snow storm. The geese don't play politics.  They just know what to do when chips are down and life becomes a matter of survival. 

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And yes, the geese are always freely communicating.  Judging by their different voices and tones, it would not be surprising to learn they actually have names for each other. -- PCA

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Swan Song in New York State -- Unless......

"Hector," photographed at Harlem Meer in Central Park, December, 2012.  Sadly, Hector was harassed from the Meer in the spring of 2013 and has not been seen since.  Will all of New York State's mute swans be "eliminated" by 2025 as per the current DEC plan?  If we want to still see swans in New York, we have to speak up for them.

All animals eat.  All animals poop.  And virtually all animal species occasionally display dominance or territorial behavior.

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But, more and more these days we are seeing various species of birds and other animals targeted for destruction based upon nature's dictates and callings.

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In the particular case of birds, they are also targeted for flying ability for the fear they "could" represent a "threat" to airliners.  (Never mind the fact that a person has a far better chance of being hit by lightening or winning a hundred million dollar lottery than going down in a plane due to a bird.)

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The latest bird species in the cross hairs for deliberate destruction are the 2,200 mute swans of New York State -- all of whom are targeted for "extirpation" by the NY DEC by the year 2025.

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The DEC prepared a document citing its rationalizations for "eliminating" the swans and requests public comment by next month:

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http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7076.html

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Of course, many of the allegations against the swans are similar to the ones we typically see against Canada geese. -- They eat aquatic plants, they "displace" other birds, they represent "threat" to airline safety and they are sometimes "aggressive."

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But, it seems we could say these things about many species of birds. Should they all be eliminated?

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The swans are also labeled as an "invasive species" because they were brought to this country in the nineteenth century by Europeans.

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But, this is a charge that could also be leveled against many animal species from horses to cats and dogs.  Should every animal species introduced to this country be targeted for "elimination" even if released to the wild? 

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Animals adapt and adjust to changes as do environments. Certainly, the species with the most impact upon ecology are humans and yet, environments and animal species have had to adjust to our presence and manipulation in this nation for hundreds of years.

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Why should we believe that a state and environment as large as New York cannot tolerate and adapt to 2,200 mute swans?

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Its the humans that can't seem to tolerate them.

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We need to start asking ourselves some serious questions.

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For examples:

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Can we agree that most of us like diverse wildlife in our communities? 

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Can we agree that humans are part of the ecology and have direct impact upon it for better and for worse?

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Can we agree that some birds and animals do better and adapt easier in areas with much human activity than do others (such as mallards, Canada geese, pigeons, sparrows and gulls)? Can we agree that it is virtually fruitless to try and "restore" environment and animal species to what they were prior to the pilgrims arrival? (Those days are never coming back.)

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Can we agree that it is both unwise and arrogant to "assume" that because some species have difficulty adapting to a mostly human created environment, that the more adaptable species are to blame? 

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Can we agree that just because humans introduced some species to this country, that is insufficient reason to target those species for "elimination?"

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If you agree with some or most of those statements, please submit opposing comment to the DEC plan as directed in the above link. Or, you can also post comment and sign the petition below that opposes the cull:

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https://www.change.org/petitions/new-york-state-department-of-environmental-conservation-stop-new-york-state-s-swan-killing-plan

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Ideally, we do both.

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The days of many of us seeing and admiring the beautiful swans swimming in our local lakes may soon be gone forever -- as they already are in Central Park in New York City.  -- PCA

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"Might, May and Could" -- Lessons in (Wildlife) Intolerance

Mute swans and Canada geese -- victims of "might, may and could."

Today our wildlife lessons are in the use of terms like "might, may or could" to generate fear and demonize whatever we deem to be nuisance or inconvenience.

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The first lesson comes from Aurora, Illinois where a church that apparently owns more than 70 acres of property is complaining about the mostly migratory Canada geese that roost at an icy lake there this time of year.

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Crossroads Church in Aurora battles geese invasion | abc7chicago.com

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The geese "squawk" when they're flying over and according to the pastor, they "occasionally chase children."  (Something I personally have never seen despite observing Canada geese in Central Park for more than five years.)

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Of course one is hard pressed to see any children in the video of an icy lake and mostly snow covered fields. Generally "soccer and baseball" are played in the summer.

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The pastor goes on to say that he "may eradicate the problem here," but it will go somewhere else in what seems blatant attempt to instill fear in neighbors that they will soon be "invaded" by geese.

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But in an outdoors (hunting) article and video out today, it is clear that the geese moving around Illinois now are migratory and in large part "attracted" by a refuge that encourages a large goose population for hunters to shoot at:

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http://www.wsiltv.com/news/local/Canada-Geese-Return-to-Southern-Illinois-240375511.html

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According to the above article, the migratory geese will leave Illinois naturally in about 60 days -- well before soccer and baseball seasons.

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Perhaps the church pastor is as ignorant about wildlife policies in his state as he is seemingly ignorant on the bible which quotes God as saying, "Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind."

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It is truly ironic that geese were shot at this church property immediately following Christmas:

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http://oswego.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/geese-hunting-at-crossroads-church-ceased-discussion-to-follow

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As there was "no room at the inn" for the Christ child, there is apparently no room on church grounds for wildlife more than 2,000 years later.

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Little has changed.

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In the more typical use of "might, may and coulds" to rationalize the deliberate killing (or "culling") of animals, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently announced a plan to "eliminate" free-roaming mute swans in New York State by the year 2025:

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Mute Swan - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

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The document makes the case for this by asserting the swans "might have a detrimental impact upon aquatic ecosystems."

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My grandmother "might" have a detrimental impact upon aquatic ecosystems -- except for the fact she is dead.

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I "might" have a mansion in Hawaii -- except for the fact I don't.

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It seems "might, may and could" are convenient words for when we don't know what we're talking about, but want to assign blame or instill fear anyway.

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And few species have become more victimized by that mentality and human tendency than Canada geese and apparently now, mute swans. -- PCA

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"You Don't Need a Weatherman to Know Which Way the Wind Blows"

Leaning light post at Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park after several days of punishing winds.

Geese and ducks hunkering down on ice-covered Reservoir yesterday.

"We have only to wait it out, guys."

Icy Reservoir.

Ducks on ice at Harlem Meer.

Arctic Vortexes are like red carpet events. -- One has to dress appropriately for them.

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So it was that with temperatures plunging this week to 4 degrees in NYC and wind chills below zero, I was compelled to dress in layers -- including tights and leggings under loose fitting pants and the hood of my jacket completely covering head and lower part of face. Who cares about "fashion" when the weather is like this?  The main thing is to insulate and protect.

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For the waterfowl of Central Park, watchwords are apparently the same.

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And though they don't have satellites in the skies or meteorologists on TV warning them of oncoming "Arctic Vortexes," the geese and ducks appear to have accurate means of knowing beforehand, drastic weather changes about to occur, as well as taking appropriate measures to protect themselves through them.

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Prior to the snow storm of more than a week ago, Canada geese left the Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park only to return shortly after the storm ended.

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Prior to the "Arctic Vortex" arriving this past Tuesday, geese also left the Reservoir with the ducks soon to follow.    (I am not sure where they all went to avoid the worst parts of the weather blasts. Presumably, some location with "cover" which is mostly lacking at the Reservoir.)

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Though I did not initially plan to go to Central Park this past Tuesday in what media  describe as "dangerous conditions," curiosity got the better of me and after donning plenty of layers, I made the trip anyway shortly after sunset.

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The temperature was 8 degrees with wind chills of minus 6.

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It was the first time ever I had gone to Central Park and not seen one living being -- either animal OR human!

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Central Park was like the twilight zone.  Eerie, but beautiful in a chilling, peaceful kind of way.

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Unsurprisingly, Harlem Meer was a frozen block of barren ice with no waterfowl on it.

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Very surprisingly however was that the bird empty Reservoir was still mostly open water! 

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The reason for that was because of the cutting winds blowing brutally from west to east, turning what is usually a calm body of water, into what appeared a raging ocean, complete with ice caps and waves.  Put simply, the water was whipping and moving too fast to freeze over.

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Small wonder all the geese and ducks left!

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The following day, a friend asked, "Weren't you afraid to be in the park when no one was there?"

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"Not really." I answered honestly. "Last night was probably the safest time of the whole year to be in the park. It was too cold for criminals."  (On that note, it was reported on the news that a escaped convict from Kentucky turned himself into the police after experiencing two days in freezing cold.)

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Returning to the park the day after the deep freeze, people were beginning to reappear as were the geese and ducks at the Reservoir.

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But, the winds were still blowing hard and water was surprisingly still open, though ice had formed around the perimeters of the Reservoir.

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Walking back from the Reservoir, I noted a light post suddenly tilted like the leaning tower of Piza.  If metal had a hard time standing up to punishing winds, how would feathers and slim bone?  It was easy then to understand why all the geese and ducks had left just prior to the "Arctic Vortex" -- especially as it blew into the Reservoir.  Yet, most of the birds were returning, as if consulting with their internal "weather reports."

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However, the greatest surprise of all was yesterday.

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Temperatures yesterday warmed up to freezing in NYC and the wind finally died down.

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But, the entire Reservoir was covered in thin sheets of ice!  (Something rarely seen at this location.)

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Normally, when ice starts to form, geese and mallards organize to vigorously swim circles and try to maintain some open water.  

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But, the geese and ducks were all standing stoically on the ice with nary any attempts to swim circles or break up ice sheets.

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Apparently, they were aware that temperatures were warming and the ice would eventually melt on its own.  There was no need to waste energy by trying to break it up.

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Some ducks also returned to a frozen Harlem Meer last night and like the ones at the Reservoir were content to roost and rest on the ice with little movement.  "We have only to wait it out," being the apparent watch phrase of the evening.

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As temperatures have warmed even more today, it is speculated that much of the thin ice at the Reservoir will have already melted and even some at Harlem Meer.

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As Dylan once sang, "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."

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In my case, I have only to observe the behaviors of the geese and ducks at Central Park to know what the weather the following day will be. -- PCA

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The Iceman Cometh to New York City and Wildlife Takes Cover

Mallards grabbing what food can be found on frozen lake and ground last night at Harlem Meer in Central Park. Temperature in NYC today 4 degrees with 20 below zero wind chills.

Temperature this morning in Central Park, NYC was 4 degrees with 20 below zero wind chills.  High temperature today will be only 12 degrees.

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That represents more than a 50 degree plunge from yesterday's balmy 57 degree thermometer reading and an all time low for Central Park on this date.

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When arriving at Harlem Meer last night, (after a day of heavy rain and unseasonably warm temperatures) I expected some of the ice on the lake to be melted.

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But, I was wrong.

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The lake was a frozen block of ice, as if in preparation for the deep freeze about to occur (not a hole of open water anywhere).

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Surprisingly, a bunch of mallards still remained and came "ice skating" across the frozen lake to me in search of food.  -- The ducks are amazingly adept at this skill, almost as good to qualify for Olympic competition. 

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But, I suspect the only reason the mallards were still at the ice covered lake was in anticipation of an early evening meal.  Its highly unlikely they stayed -- unless perhaps to take cover in some of the tall weeds and marsh that still surround the Meer.

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Weeds and marsh do enable waterfowl to find some protection from particularly brutal winds, as evidenced in the following incredible video shot the other day in Prospect Park:

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http://vimeo.com/83449105

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The understanding today is that Prospect Park is also now covered in ice with only a "tiny hole" of still open water.

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Unlike Prospect Park and Harlem Meer, there is very little brush remaining around the Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park for waterfowl to take cover from wind as virtually all of it has been cut down during the past year.

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It is speculated that is the main reason for virtually all of the Canada geese to suddenly vacate the Reservoir as of late yesterday afternoon despite the fact that most of the ice had melted and there was open water.

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The geese had also left the Reservoir just prior to the snow storm last week.

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Normally geese like "open spaces" as they allow for easy viewing of potential predators.

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But, apparently during storms or particularly brutal wind chills, they seek cover from the elements.

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Mallards and other ducks were still present at the Reservoir last night. But, being smaller than geese, it is hoped and anticipated they can find some cover in the few small plants and weeds scattered on rocks around the watercourse.

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But, regardless of exactly where the birds are during this frigid spell in New York City, they undoubtedly are forced to "hunker down" and just toughen out the harsh times.

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By the end of the week, temperatures are predicted to balloon up again to 50 degrees.

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I can then say again how much I "love winter" in New York City and particularly Central Park.

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But, for now, I and the ducks and geese are simply saying, "Bah humbug! This can't end soon enough!"   -- PCA

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Mystery of the Mallards Who Elected to Stay on Frozen Lake

Sun setting on frozen Harlem Meer yesterday.

Tree overlooking completely frozen lake.

Not a duck or goose to be seen anywhere.

Night falls on frigid scene.

And suddenly, out come the ducks -- including Mister Mister!

But, why did the flying mallards elect to stay on frozen lake?

At the Jackie Onassis Reservoir, geese who had been hunkered against cold the day before, suddenly had to "work" to maintain open water on quickly icing over watercourse.

Temperatures in NYC warmed yesterday to a balmy 25 degrees.  It almost felt like spring!

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But, considering near single digit plunge of the previous few days, I fully expected Harlem Meer in Central Park to be a frozen block of ice -- and indeed it was.

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There was not a single goose or duck to be seen anywhere on the ice-covered lake when first I arrived.

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But, the reason for going to the Meer was my concern for "Mister, Mister," the mallard drake with a broken wing since last spring.

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Could Mister survive at all on a frozen lake? -- Especially alone?

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I walked all around the Meer yesterday searching for Mister or any sign of waterfowl life only to be met with sunset photo opportunities.

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But, as the sun sunk below the horizon and I had walked a complete circle around the Meer, I suddenly noticed, not one, but a total of 5 mallards walking on the ice!

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Where had they been hiding? I wondered. (Apparently in marshes and weeds.) And why were 4 flying mallards still at the frozen Meer?

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The second question I had no answer for as it is extremely unusual for ducks or geese to remain on a totally frozen watercourse.

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That is, unless there is some sort of "bonding" with a flightless mate or flock member or there is anticipation that ice will shortly melt and open water soon become available.

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I am not sure of the answer in this case as I was not aware of Mister having any bonded flock mates or if the ducks could possibly know that temperatures would warm today and the thinner ice sheets likely melt.

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The four healthy ducks remaining were comprised of two drakes and two hens (pairs, I imagined).  But, exactly why they stayed to tough it out with the flightless Mister when all the other mallards and geese left shall remain a mystery.

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Chalk it up to still another example of just when you think you "know" everything about natural duck or goose behavior, something occurs that knocks your socks off and basically informs that you are an idiot.  (i.e."You don't know anything at all!")

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After tossing some cracked corn to the hungry five on ice who provided few answers, I decided to check out the scene at the Jackie Onassis Reservoir where presumably most of the geese and ducks still remained.

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But, I was in for another shock when finally arriving to the Reservoir.

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In less than 24 hours, nearly 90% of the Reservoir became covered in ice!   (As previously noted, the Central Park Reservoir, rarely freezes over even in the coldest of winters. To suddenly see it like a giant ice sheet and in so short a period was startling to say the least!)

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I could however, make out goose shapes in the far distance and made my way over to the north side of the watercourse -- or ice course, more accurately.

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And yes, the geese, mallards and coots were still there -- but unlike the previous day when geese were mostly hunkered down against the cold with their heads tucked into their backs, the geese were hard at work last night.

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They apparently realized that with 90% of the Reservoir quickly icing over, they had two choices:

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They either flew out to search for a safe, open water location somewhere else. 

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Or, they organized into "working groups" to swim vigorously in circles to maintain an open pool of water.

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Most of the geese obviously chose the latter. --  If they wanted open water at the Reservoir, they had to work for it.

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And so swim and "work" they did.  

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I did not in fact see even one goose last night sitting on rocks with head tucked into back like the day before. 

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Each goose had a role and job to do.

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And for their part, the mallards and coots assisted.

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While geese, being larger and heavier than mallards or coots are good at breaking up thin sheets of ice, the smaller birds (being quicker) assist by keeping the pools open through vigorous, energetic swimming.

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Its interesting how waterfowl, who can be competitive and even combative with each other during other times of the year are amazingly cooperative when the chips are down and conditions challenging.

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This was not the first time I had witnessed geese and ducks working cooperatively to create and maintain open water during winter's challenges.  Indeed, it is par for the course.

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But, I still can't figure out those four mallards who elected to stay at a completely frozen  Harlem Meer!

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Perhaps Mister Mister has something going for him besides a broken and now calcified wing?

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It is said that nature often "compensates" for that which is taken away.

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I was aware that since breaking his wing, Mister Mister became the fastest duck on feet at Harlem Meer.   He moves on land with the swiftness of a dart which is the one factor that makes a rescue of this flightless mallard nearly impossible.

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But, did nature compensate Mister Mister in some other way I am not aware?

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Perhaps a hefty dose of charm or persuasion?

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Only the mallards know for sure -- and they ain't telling.    

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I will simply have to be content to know what I do not know.  -- PCA

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