Migrations a Hard Stress on Birds -- Not All of Whom Make It

Migratory geese arriving to mostly still ice-covered lakes and ponds.

Migratory goose catching much needed shut-eye after long and taxing journey.

Ah, sweet rest at last!

Like statues on the frozen ice.

So close and yet so far. One of the ones who sadly did not make it.

And one of the ones still making it.

Rest before take-off again.

 

Winter officially ended several days ago, but one would never know it in New York City.

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On the first day of Spring, we received almost 5 inches of snow in the city. Though the following day warmed enough to melt the snow, temperatures have since dropped to the 20's and 30's.

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And as further reminder that winter has not gracefully exited, there was a Canada goose floating belly up in the icy water of the Central Park Reservoir this morning.

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Sight of the dead migratory goose saddened, but did not totally surprise me. As noted repeatedly in this blog, this has been a brutal and deadly winter for many water birds (including 10 deaths at the Reservoir, despite myself and a couple of other people feeding everyday). That some are still dying in its aftermath can hardly come as surprise. Reality is, that most smaller watercourses are still heavily iced over and conditions in NY still wintry, despite the calendar change in season.

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(In Idaho last week, 2,000 migrating snow geese "fell dead out of the sky" though in that case, it is speculated that avian cholera caused the deaths, rather than weather conditions.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2-000-migrating-snow-geese-drop-dead-sky-idaho-article-1.2153399)

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Nevertheless, bird migrations have to move on and are actually at their peak now as this article details:

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http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20150323_Birders_watch_as_migrating_fowl_fly_through_Pa_.html

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At the Central Park Reservoir, the migratory geese have been arriving and departing on a daily basis.

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Usually most mornings of the past week, there are about 200 geese at the Reservoir. By evenings, most if not all, are gone to be replaced by another 200 or so the following day.

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Though in the past, it was typical to see the geese flying out of the Reservoir in the early mornings, the last few days have shown a marked  difference in the routine.

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It appears most of the geese must be arriving overnight, as by the time I see them in the mornings, they are resting, quiet and barely moving at all on the ice. If anything, they simply appear exhausted after what are presumably very long journeys through some inhospitable conditions.

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Migrations seem to be (to put it mildly) quite taxing on the geese. Even tossing food to my regular group of ducks is not enough to stir most of the geese from their greatly needed rest and a few moments of shut-eye.

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Still, it was sad to note this morning, the one goose, who having made it through a merciless winter and at least half of the migratory route did not possess the necessary strength nor nutritional back-up to get her/him through the rest of the way.

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So close and yet so far.

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Rest in final peace, little one. -- PCA

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