Where the Star Attraction is the Wildlife

It's a bit ironic that I moved from NYC to Cortland, N.Y. more than a year ago, yet find myself writing nearly exclusively about the same problems plaguing NYC parks and their wildlife as when I was living there.

Could  it be that you can take the woman out of NYC, but not NYC out of the woman?

Actually, I don't think so.

There is nothing I miss about NYC other than friends still living there and the wildlife I came to know in Central Park.  Wildlife that appears now to be under intense pressure to, "Move to Long Island."

In terms of contrast, I am writing today about my local park in Cortland, the Municipal Water Works Park, which is less than two miles from where I live.

Yes, it's a bit of hike walking to and from there, and it's not the rolling hills and manicured lawns of Central Park. But the Water Works Park is a special kind of haven for wildlife.

A large, wooded area is fenced off for the herd of roughly 30 White-tailed deer maintained there and there is a sizable, temperature-controlled pond that is ideal for wild ducks and geese -- especially during harsh Cortland winters.  There are also many robust squirrels, both grey and red and some groundhogs.

Not only are families with children welcomed to bring food for wildlife, but the park actually fills troughs with hard corn and fresh water for deer.

While there are picnic tables in the park, most visitors come exclusively to feed and interact with the deer and waterfowl.
Some people even have names for the deer and can tell you all about their relationships to each other.

In addition to wild mallards and geese, there are also a number of domestic ducks at the park and two domestic (Chinese) geese whom I call, "The Honeymooners " -- that is because Ralph and Alice are so LOUD!  I understand the Chinese geese have been living at the park six years, though no one seems to know how they or the domestic ducks got there. But all survived a brutal winter and appear to be doing well.

Presently, in the park, things are in peaceful lull.
Most of the geese and mallards have departed for more "private" nesting sites.  The deer have lost their antlers and the young have yet to hatch or be born.

But within weeks, the park will be bristling with new life in the forms of baby ducklings, goslings and fawns!

Last year, we had at least 60 ducklings, close to 40 goslings and maybe about 7 or 8 fawns-- all of them healthy despite nearly constant human feeding throughout the year, including much bread.

Waterfowl population does fluctuate in the park with it being lower in early spring and fall and heavier in summer (because of babies) and in winter because of the temperature-managed pond.

Though not having the funding and resources of NYC parks, the Municipal Water Works Park in Cortland is beautifully maintained with crystal clean water all the time, natural trees and fauna. And despite all the wildlife feeding, the park is never littered with trash strewn about or discarded fishing lines. (No fishing in park.)

In short, the Municipal Water Works park in Cortland is as different from Central Park as night is to day. Wildlife is the focal point and main attraction, whereas in all NYC parks, wildlife is apparently  unwelcome inconvenience.

But weren't NYC parks originally created for harried New Yorkers to have peaceful respite and opportunity to connect with nature and wildlife? When did they become mere extension of the outside chaos and crowds of the city; the "concrete jungle?"

Give me a park where instead of movies, shows, concerts, sporting events and fireworks, the star attraction is still nature and wildlife.

I never really left New York City as much as it left me.


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