Cruel Summers at Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park

Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park. Beneath a beautiful picture, sadness and continued loss.

Remy in one of last photos taken of her. A day later, she mysteriously vanished and has not been seen since.

Hansel and Greta, bereaved goose parents lingering and searching, but seemingly resigned to still another loss.

We are trying to grapple with and make sense of the unexplainable.  Anything is possible, but little, if anything makes sense.

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I am writing particularly of the loss this past week of the last of the three goslings (Remy) from the Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park.

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Remy's two other siblings vanished and mysteriously perished weeks earlier.  Like them, Remy also mysteriously vanished and it is difficult to figure reason why, especially considering Remy's age and size. At the time of her disappearance, Remy was larger than a mallard and was just beginning to sprout wings (though not yet capable of flying).  

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Others are speculating raccoon or snapping turtle attacks. Such explanation might seem plausible were it not for such extreme egg and goose losses over the past two years at the Reservoir.

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During the past two years, 8 pairs of geese have attempted to nest at Reservoir. Two nesting hens died within weeks of each other this year and over the two years, only three goslings hatched out of more than 30 eggs laid. Add to that, the losses of all three goslings within two months of hatching this year. 

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To me, these kinds of extreme and unnatural losses are not explained by snapping turtles or raccoons alone. Though I have seen snapping turtles at the Central Park Boat Lake and been told they exist at Reservoir, I have never actually seen one there. As for raccoons, I have never seen one even succeed at stealing an egg as goose pairs put up strong defense of eggs and goslings.

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We know for a fact, egg addling (oiling goose eggs so they fail to hatch due to oxygen deprivation) occurs at the other watercourses of Central Park under the auspices of the Central Park Conservancy and has been for some years. The Reservoir is under the watch and control of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), but it is presumed egg addling occurs there too, due to the large number of goose eggs (over 30) that failed to hatch at the Reservoir over the past two years.

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Nevertheless, three eggs (out of four laid) did hatch at the Reservoir this year.

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At first it was speculated that since the goose pair nested a little late, it was possible that the eggs were missed and we thus had, "miracle goslings!"

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But, now with all three goslings perishing within two months of hatching, I personally suspect that the eggs had indeed been tampered with, but for whatever reason, 3 of the 4 eggs hatched anyway.

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But, could it be that these goslings were doomed from the very start from having suffered some oxygen deprivation early in their development?

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From the very beginning of their hatching, the goose family appeared very "different" from two other goose families previously observed.

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For one matter, the family was far less structured than other goose families, with goslings frequently wandering off (in one case, for nearly a full day) and the parents appearing to be less in control and less attentive and vigilant in terms of protection and discipline than other goose parents. 

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Was it possible that the goose parents knew or sensed something amiss that we casual human observers could not? 

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That of course is impossible to know because none of us can get inside of the geese's heads.

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The parents, while attending to perfunctory duties of parenthood did not appear (to me) of being that engaged with their offspring. It was almost as if they were preparing themselves for loss.

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I recently shared these troubling events with a woman who is a syndicated and investigative journalist and goose expert.  She also suspects egg addling "has something to do with it" though I told her raccoons are in the area and snapping turtles in Central Park.

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Nevertheless, there are others who are convinced raccoons or snapping turtles are the culprits in these losses.  While I acknowledge that predators might have contributed to or hastened goose, egg or gosling deaths, they just don't explain at this point, the long list of egg losses, nesting goose deaths, unusual goose parental and gosling behavior and finally, the death and disappearance of the last gosling, Remy.  Predators are lucky to get one or two eggs or goslings. They don't usually wipe out entire families.  

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Still, the bottom line is, none of us knows for sure what has happened.  There are different theories and any could be partially right or wrong and perhaps even all are factors.  It's simply been painful to witness these unusual and tragic losses and not know specifically what's gone so terribly wrong.

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Presently, Hansel and Greta (the goose parents) still remain at the Reservoir. They have spent the last four days seemingly in search of their last gosling, but now appear somewhat resigned to still another loss. I suspect that when finally giving up all hope, they will probably leave the Reservoir as it is not an ideal place in terms of low natural food supplies and rough terrain for year round stay.  

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In summation, its been a rough and cruel two past summers at the Reservoir in Central Park.

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Loss of Remy is particularly distressing as there seemed real hope that she might survive after having made it this long.

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But, apparently, it was never meant to be.

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As said, lots of possibilities and theories, but few, if any making sense.

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That only the geese could actually talk to us.   -- PCA

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