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Although the resident goose population in Central Park is currently very low (less than 20) virtually all the geese are paired off, including the most recent pairing, Brad (the recently widowed gander) and Gabrielle, his seeming savior or angel.
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But, what about some of the other pairs? It's been a while since writing about any of them.
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Well, first, a quick update on Napoleon and Josephine at Harlem Meer:
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Napoleon and Josie were among the very first geese to actively and diligently prepare for nesting and it was of course, no surprise when they actually did.
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I haven't seen Josephine at all for at least three weeks.
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As was true last year, Josie has once again nested on the small tree island towards the west side of the lake, very well hidden from public view. I have never observed Josie to leave her eggs and venture on the water (though it might be expected she has on a few and brief occasions).
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Her gander, Napoleon has been like a statue over this entire time, constantly "on guard" just a few feet off the island, virtually never moving from the spot.
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If not oiled by Geese Police, their eggs should be among the first to hatch in Central Park, somewhere around the 20th of May, give or take a few days.
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As Napoleon and Josephine are experienced and extremely diligent, protective nesters, if any eggs have chance to hatch in Central Park, it is theirs.
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But, much remains to be seen considering the park and their vendor's tendency to oil (i.e. destroy) all goose eggs.
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I personally have fingers crossed for Napoleon and Josephine as they will no doubt, be exemplary goose parents. They have, in short, done everything right.
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Another pair of experienced nesters are John and Mary at the western portion of the Jackie Onassis Reservoir, who, as last year, returned to the same site this year to nest.
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Similar to Napoleon and Josephine at the Meer, Mary also laid her eggs around the same time and if viable, the eggs should hatch around the last week of this month.
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There was concern (because of their vulnerable placement on rocky cliff close to water) that Mary might have lost her eggs in the torrential rain storm of last week. But, that didn't happen -- as it did to another nesting goose pair at the Boat Lake in Central Park.
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Like Josephine, at Harlem Meer, Mary virtually never leaves her nest save for a very quick dip in the water. Before doing that, she makes sure her eggs are completely covered and hidden from view by carefully pulling down over them.
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Mary's gander, John, constantly patrols the waters on the west side of the Reservoir. Occasionally he returns close to the nest should Mary need help in chasing off a raccoon or a few pesky mallards.
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Should their eggs actually hatch, John and Mary should make excellent parents (like Napoleon and Josephine) as they have followed all the rules in the goose parenting playbook.
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Sadly however, we cannot say the same for all the currently nesting geese in Central Park.
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Seeming not to follow any of the "rules" in the goose parenting playbook are "Bozo and Floozie" currently nesting in perhaps the most public place in all of Central Park -- the 90th Street main entrance on the east side or Reservoir.
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It is not certain what inspired these two take up nesting in such a highly visible public arena -- unless they just like to put on a show for tourists, joggers and lovers stopping to take photographs.
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So far, Floozie has already lost three eggs laid seemingly around the time of the rain storm and likely flooded due to lack of attention and care.
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A few days later, Floozie dropped four more eggs and seems as inattentive to these as the first batch.
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She frequently leaves her nest and eggs to graze on the grass growing through rocks or just to lazily observe what's going on in the water. For sure, Floozie will not be one of those goose mamas losing 25% of her body weight through the rigors of nesting. She hasn't missed a meal yet.
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Yesterday, Floozie completely abandoned her nest and eggs to join her mate, Bozo in chasing Brad and Gabrielle out of their territorial domain on the east side of Reservoir.
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The loud honking and wild commotion on the water was something to behold!
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Floozie was far more interested in aiding and cheering her gander on in the territorial squabbling than actually paying attention to her eggs.
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All this while mallards were freely walking around her nest. Were any raccoons in the vicinity, Floozie's eggs were exposed and unprotected for easy picking (although this time, she actually covered them with down -- unlike past days).
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When there is nothing else to garner her fleeting attention, Floozie does (reluctantly?) sit on her eggs. ("No one ever told me nesting would be this boring and time consuming!")
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But, quite frankly, I don't have a whole lot of confidence these four eggs will ultimately hatch -- regardless of whether or not Geese Police actually oils them.
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One suspects Bozo and Floozie are "teenage" parents who have little real interest in the heavy responsibilities of parenting. If, by some miracle, the eggs magically hatch, it would not surprise if Bozo and Floozie drop off their hapless goslings on the more mature and responsible goose parents at the Reservoir -- John and Mary -- and simply take off.
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Napoleon and Josephine, were they to witness any of this, would be absolutely horrified.
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All the rules of the goose parenting playbook, simply tossed to wind, Bozo and Floozie seemingly have better things to do than to take on for the long haul, the burdens of parenthood. "Whatever will be, will be," seemingly their motto. "We live by the seat of our wings."
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In short, it should not surprise when occasionally seeing photographs or videos of goose parents with 20 or more goslings. For sure, the mama did not lay and hatch 20 eggs.
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More than likely, they are simply the hapless bearers of either "boomerang" kids dropping off grand kids on them or adopters of the goslings of, "We live by the seat of our wings!" teenage goose parents.
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What is true in the human world of parenting seems apparently true in the goose world as well. Not everyone is cut out to be "Mom" or Dad" of the year and thankfully, there are others who, when necessary, are willing to step in and take over the formidable tasks of parenthood. -- PCA
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