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A light, but steady rain fell as I left for Central Park this morning at the crack of dawn.
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But I had no sooner made it close to the Jackie Onassis Reservoir when loud, enthusiastic honking erupted in the misty skies above me.
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I looked up to see a large flock of at least 30 migratory geese flying fast over the trees and disappearing into the eastern skies.
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Whenever I see this glorious scene, a part of me wants to go with them. -- If only I had wings....
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Only a gaggle of nine geese remained on the Reservoir, but it was clear from the precise and determined way they were lining up, they too, were preparing for flight. Sure enough, within five minutes, all nine took off in a straight line, following the same flight path as the larger group who preceded them.
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The Reservoir was then, entirely goose-empty.
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Feeling like, "Patty come too lately," I decided to walk to the Boat Lake where I was sure to see and get to spend a little time with the seven resident geese there (The family of four and a small gaggle of three.)
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The gaggle of three were the first to greet me at the Boat Lake. They were comprised of a mated pair and a "tag-a-long" younger, female goose. The juvenile tag-a-long was the same goose who was ogling up to people the previous week at Bethesda Fountain. At the time, she appeared as a "loner" goose, but I know from my friend, Liliana, she is most of the time, observed with the dominant pair, but in subservient position. I decided today, to name her, "Daisy."
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I was only with the three geese a short time, when from a distance, the family of four (parents and their two fledglings) could be observed swimming towards the rock.
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Immediately, the gander of the pair I was with, assumed alert and aggressive posture, as did his mate. (Daisy, however, remained toward the back of the rock and showed little interest in the approaching gaggle.)
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Usually in geese, established families with goslings assume top hierarchy position and other geese defer to and move out of their way.
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It was clear that was not happening here.
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Both the gander and his feisty "wife" crept toward the edge of the rock, loudly honking and hissing with heads and necks lowered and stretched out, prepared for battle.
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It then dawned on me:
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These were Napoleon and Josephine!
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For those not familiar with earlier entries in this blog, Napoleon and "Josie" (for short) are the pair who virtually terrorized every other goose at Harlem Meer, both, this past spring and the previous one.
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Both years they nested, but the eggs were apparently oiled and failed to hatch. After losing their potential young, (both years) Napoleon and Josie eventually left Harlem Meer and I never knew what became of them.
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I apparently know now. -- I would know that behavior anywhere!
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Although "Man," (as Liliana calls the daddy of the family) is usually proficient at chasing out other geese, he was obviously intimidated by the much larger Napoleon, as was his mate, "Lady," apparently spooked by the temperamental Josephine. It was clear they knew better than to try and take on directly, the two imposing geese who obviously meant business.
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Not at all pleased by what I was seeing, I finally decided to step in front of Napoleon and began to give him a lecture, while gently pushing back his wings with my hands.
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"Now, Napoleon, that behavior is unacceptable! This is a FAMILY and you have to accept! -- Back! Back!"
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Both, Napoleon and Josie began to begrudgingly step back.
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Eventually, the family was able to make it on to the edge of the rock and I tossed some cracked corn to them. But, they appeared too nervous to actually eat.
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I then sat down on the rock between the two gaggles as a kind of "referee" in case war was to break out.
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Thankfully, it didn't.
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Frustrated with the situation, Napoleon pecked at a couple of mallards -- and even Daisy to presumably let me know he was not at all pleased -- but he accepted the "peace initiative."
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An uneasy truce seemed to prevail over the next 20 minutes or so.
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But, to be honest, I wasn't sure if all hell broke out the minute I left. Though I did not hear any squabbling even when quite far away, one can never be sure of anything where Napoleon and his cheerleader wife are concerned.
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Walking back from the park with the rain still falling, I reflected back on the situation as there were several interesting revelations.
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Perhaps the most fascinating is that Napoleon and Josephine appear to have "adopted" an orphaned waif, (Daisy). Is this because they were unable to have young of their own? Considering how nasty they generally are to other geese, its hard to figure this uncharacteristic charity and acceptance.
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For her part, Daisy needs a family and obviously the already established one isn't going to accept her. Napoleon and Josie are task masters for sure, but the fact they accept Daisy at all, virtually assures her companionship and protection of the highest order.
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This seems still another example of animals "using" each other for mutual benefit and survival. Napoleon and Josephine finally have a "child" and Daisy has stepparents.
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As for Man, Lady and their now three-month-old goslings, well, they have learned to share the lay of the land, so to speak. Napoleon and Josie are bigger, probably older and after all, they too, are now "parents" and "family." (Perhaps another reason for their highly unusual acceptance of Daisy?)
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Recent reports from my friend, Liliana also describe situations where she has had to act as referee between the two competing families.
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The good news in all this is that Napoleon and Josephine actually allow and follow (albeit very begrudgingly) the human directives.
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Score another one for "human/animal connection?" -- PCA
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