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This has been the winter of my discontent. And though it has officially departed, its deadly aftermath remains.
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Two migratory Canada geese perished at the Central Park Reservoir this week. One appeared to have died from natural causes (starvation, exhaustion, illness?). The second one yesterday appeared to have been preyed upon. Perhaps s/he was simply in too weakened a condition to escape or resist predation by a hawk. There was a bloody mess of feathers and body parts on the ice yesterday morning.
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If these sights weren't sad enough, this morning another goose appeared to be in bad shape.
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True, it rained yesterday and last night in New York City. But, the water, mud and perhaps oil soaked into the goose wasn't natural. Either the goose is suffering infection, illness or parasites or he is simply too weak to properly preen and waterproof his feathers.The goose appeared young and (on the bright side) was eating.
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Unfortunately, attempting to rescue a sick water bird at the Reservoir is virtually impossible due to the lack of access for either pedestrians or even park rangers (so I have been told).
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The only hope for the water/oil soaked goose is that he can somehow make it through long enough to gain waterproofing on his feathers again. But that is a long shot -- especially in light of temperatures again dipping to 15 degrees below normal for this time of year (equivalent to first week in February). Geese need waterproofing of their feathers for insulation.
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If nothing about this past winter was normal, there is little about the current goose migrations that are normal, either.
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Usually by this time, most of the geese have completed migrations back to their northern nesting grounds and there are few, if any at the Central Park Reservoir.
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But, for than a week there have been at least 200 geese at the Reservoir every morning and even in the evenings.
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While I surmised these were different birds each day as migrating flocks flew in and flew out, I am now not so sure.
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As noted, I've seen very little flying (either in or out of Reservoir) over the past two weeks.
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Mostly, what is observed are geese resting, unmoving on the ice -- like statues. (Yes, at least 65% of the Reservoir is still covered in ice despite the warmer temperatures over the past week.). Most of the migratory geese appear exhausted and spent. I am now speculating that most are too depleted and weak to fly out on their normal schedule.
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Perhaps they are just taking extra time, waiting for more ice to thaw, which then opens up food sources? This in turn should replenish their strength and energy sufficient to continue their long, arduous migrations back north.
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While most of the images have been grim and desperate over these past several months, there are, nevertheless, a few hopeful signs on the horizon:
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This morning, one gaggle of geese were observed splashing, preening and even diving for food under newly opened water. (One pair was even seen mating in the water, but I arrived too late to get a photo. -- I did however, capture the post-coital, proud, wing flapping of the gander!)
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Such indeed were sights for sore eyes as so far, I have seen very little territorial or mating behaviors among the geese. And I have seen virtually no diving under water for food as there has been so little open water.
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Another bright happening today was the sight of a male wood duck who magically showed up since yesterday. Can romance possibly be in the air for our lone, surviving little female wood duck, Willow? It is quite possible. Stay tuned on that one.
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So, perhaps there is hope that there will finally come a spring?
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That only we can finally get past the grim aftermaths and death grips of a winter that seemingly never wants to leave.
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But, for the moment, I am simply hoping that our water and mud-logged goose can somehow make it through these next challenging weeks.
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A promise of warmer, sunnier days await -- if he can just hold on a little longer. -- PCA
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