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No sooner did the coldest February in NYC in more than 80 years finally depart, when March rolled in with five more inches of snow to dump on the city.
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Snow was the last thing the ducks, geese and other wildlife needed in the northeast.
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Last night mallards were digging under snow almost as high as they were in frantic search of seeds and food.
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But, it isn't just the water birds of Central Park suffering this winter, as much as wildlife along 2/3rds of the country as this Boston Globe article describes:
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A few nights ago, I was tossing food to the ravenous geese and mallards at the Central Park Reservoir as a young couple stood behind me eagerly taking photographs. They were fascinated by the ducks and geese clustered at my feet and grasping food from my hands.
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Pointing to three bodies frozen in the middle of the ice, I said, "You see over there? Those are three dead geese who starved to death on this frozen ice. Mallards have died here too. There is no food for the birds during this brutal winter."
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The girl frowned, "Ah, that is sad."
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The young man continued taking photos and commented that the birds "really love" me.
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Noting the bright red label on the sleeve of his Canada Goose parka, I replied, "The geese would love you too, if you brought food for them, instead of wearing them."
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Suddenly embarrassed, the young man proclaimed his coat "was a gift."
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"Well then, perhaps you can make it up to the animals the next time you come, by bringing some sustenance for them during this punishing weather," I replied with a forced smile.
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"Wear a heart on your sleeve, instead of a label."
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The young man smiled. "I see your point."
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I did not think anymore of the encounter until this morning.
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Listening to The Today Show while preparing to go to Central Park this morning, the mention of "Canada goose" suddenly grabbed my undivided attention.
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But, it was not a report about suffering geese or other wildlife during this frigid, abnormal winter, but rather (and quite shockingly), a nearly 3-minute "commercial" for the controversial company, Canada Goose disguised as journalism:
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Had Canada Goose spent 2 million dollars for a Super Bowl ad, they could not have gotten better --and free advertising than this.
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Al Roker did the so-called report, presumably because he is a fan and wearer of the product.
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But nowhere in the 2:53 promotional piece, was it mentioned the incalculable numbers of geese slaughtered to fill Canada Goose products nor the coyotes trapped, tortured and killed for the fur trims.
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Only at the end of the segment did Roker cite the company as "controversial" because of the use of furs -- but then he spouted propaganda from the CEO of CG, claiming real fur is "warmer" than synthetic. (An outright lie.)
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That there was no representative from HSUS or any other animal welfare/rights organization to speak for the animals brutalized and killed for these unnecessary products is affront to the principles of "both sides" balanced reporting on controversial issues. That free promotional advertising was presented as a "news report" was a mockery to journalism itself.
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(For an example of balanced reporting on the controversy of Canada Goose, please read this article and watch the videos from a credible and major UK news source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2544075/Revealed-Chilling-cruelty-unspeakable-suffering-corporate-denial-Is-TRUE-cost-seasons-Canada-Goose-coat.html)
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One has to wonder where the Animal Rights movement has been during the explosion of goose down products over the past decade? (Not just Canada Goose products, but many others as well.)
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Is plucking and stripping live birds of their down feathers and killing them for unnecessary adornment no less grievous than trapping and killing animals for their fur?
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While there is still AR protest against the wearing of fur coats, one would be hard pressed to find any protests against down.
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Yet, this winter and last, I could count on one hand, the number of people observed wearing real fur coats. But, I have probably passed millions wearing down coats and many thousands sporting Canada Goose and other down filled and fur trimmed products -- including the young man confronted a few nights ago.
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Perhaps I could be a little more "compassionate" towards the Canada Goose company and those wearing these garments of animal misery and death were their no comparable alternatives available.
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But, for the past two winters I have been wearing a parka, that while looking like a Canada Goose product, is completely man-made, including the synthetic faux fur trim around the hood. Though I have been out many times (and for hours at a clip) during snow storms and single-digit temperatures, not once have I felt a body chill through the coat nor so much as a breeze on my well protected head and neck.
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The claim that real fur is warmer and more protective than faux fur is completely false as well as the claim of down being warmer than synthetic fills. One only need look at the geese and ducks suffering throughout this brutal winter to know that down leaves much to be desired in terms of protection against brute force winds and cold.
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Tonight, I was back at the ice and snow covered Reservoir. I was nearly engulfed by desperate geese and ducks literally falling over themselves to get a small morsel of food.
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And once again, I was surrounded by curious onlookers with cameras and fascinated giggles as the frantic birds flew around and scrambled at my feet.
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But, the good news was, that no one was wearing a Canada Goose coat.
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There is just something about that bright red patch that makes one think of blood and guts and causes a shudder. -- PCA
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1 comment:
I hate seeing the Canada Goose jackets, even today someone sat next to me on the bus with the jacket on.
I stopped by the reservoir again today and gave food to the geese/mallards.. Lots of people there because of the snowstorm, taking photos and laughing but none giving any food like you say.
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