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It's been a strange and eventful few weeks. Most peculiar, USDA Wildlife Services, Public Affairs Specialist, Carol Bannerman's cryptic note and photos to (27) GooseWatch NYC. (See prior blog entry.)
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At least one of the photos appears posed. (Three USDA agents "gently" lowering a goose to a crate like fine china at Gateway National Park.) It's bewildering to wonder of Bannerman's point in sending the two roundup photos to GooseWatch? Isn't the natural follow-up question, "Where are the rest of the photos?"
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Ms. Bannerman further warns there is possibility of another goose roundup, but declines to name location and says the decision is "pending."
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One can only guess at the motivations for saying this. Wouldn't the natural follow-up question be, "Which location?"
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One supposes that the Public Affairs Specialist (as representative of USDA WS), was attempting some kind of transparency. But, then there are natural follow-up questions and if WS refuses to answer those questions, they are back in the same withholding and stonewalling box. None of it makes much sense.
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Recently, there have been some witness reports of geese flying during this otherwise molting (flightess) period. However, that is not what is being observed at Central Park where all 38 geese are molting and completely flightless. It would be hard to imagine any of the geese flying for at least two to three weeks.
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A few other interesting observations in CP recently:
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Incredible as it sounds, someone actually tossed a Citibike over the fencing at Jackie O Reservoir! I photographed it the other day below the water. It blows the mind to think someone actually did that. It might help to explain however, why Citibikes is experiencing financial woes if some of the riders are dumping bikes in city park watercourses.
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More significantly, it forces question once again of why geese are constantly accused of "making a mess" when humans routinely discard all kinds of trash in city parks, including, bottles, bags, toys, balls, fishing lines and even Citibikes.
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Both Turtle Pond and Harlem Meer at Central Park are presently covered in duck weed, but there are no ducks at TP and less than a dozen at Harlem Meer. Both locations contain no geese.
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Most of the mallards at CP are hanging with the 26 geese at Reservoir. I am wondering if particularly aggressive goose harassment this year at most of the park's watercourses has had scary and negative impact on the mallards? Very weird to see Harlem Meer practically devoid of all water birds this time of year. Usually there are tons of ducks, particularly with duck weed on water -- a major food source.
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As noted, we have four goslings this summer at CP. Two (only a week old) at the Boat Lake and two (a month old) at Reservoir. This is a miracle considering aggressive egg addling program, but good to see.
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Also good to see is that we have the same number of resident geese at CP as last year and previous year. Am relieved that many of the geese harassed from other CP lakes and ponds, apparently flew into the Reservoir. At least there, they are safe from dogs, fishermen and even harassment when it occurs.
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Yesterday, at the Reservoir, I encountered a middle-aged jogger who stopped her run to admire the geese on the water. The woman and I got into a pleasant conversation regarding the birds and wildlife of Central Park. However, when informing her of government goose roundups and slaughters occurring elsewhere in the city, the woman became very distressed. She suddenly lowered head and put her hands over her ears. "Oh, please, don't tell me that!" she cried. "I can't bear to hear. It's too painful!"
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Realizing my error in trying to be informative, I quickly backtracked and told the woman that at least the geese were safe at the Reservoir in Central Park. "No harm will come to them here," I assuringly added. (I did not tell her about harassment measures at CP. The woman was already too upset when hearing about WS goose roundups and culls.)
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Later, when reflecting back on this encounter, it occurred that the only way for WS to continue their heinous wildlife slaughters throughout our land is for most good people (like the woman) to try and block the horror out -- literally with hands over ears.
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Here in New York City, we don't have a whole lot to be grateful for this summer, but there are a few small victories. I am personally hoping that WS gets out of town before conducting any more goose massacre.
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Certainly, WS is doing some strange things this summer as evidenced by the swift and defensive reply to Monte Merrick's online petition (which in a couple of weeks has garnered more than 70,000 signatures USDA Wildlife Services responds directly to BAX co-director over Change.org pe) as well as the emailing to me of a note I was probably not intended to see and the very strange email to GooseWatch.
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These are indeed strange days (to quote a Doors song) characterized particularly yesterday by a woman covering her ears when informed of distressing realities.
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Hopefully, there comes time when more people are willing to remove blinders and finally say to government sponsored wildlife slaughters, "Enough! Not in our name and not with our tax dollars!" -- PCA
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