Summer Rerun?

Last summer was rough for the wildlife of Central Park.

More than 300 Central Park raccoons sickened and died.

Eight of the nine goslings at the Jackie Onassis Reservoir weakend and perished before a month old.  (These had been the only goslings allowed to hatch in all of Central Park last year; thus only one survived in an 843 acre park.)

Both, mallard and goose numbers were down in Central Park during the summer molt, though the reasons for that are not clear.

We are not yet into the summer of 2019.

But so far, signs are that it will mostly be repeat of 2018 and possibly worse.

Once again, the only goslings allowed to hatch are seven at the Jackie Onassis Reservoir. (Other geese nested, but no other hatchlings.)  Already, at least one of the goslings has perished over the past week.

And while reports and photos are scattered, they sadly seem to suggest surviving goslings are slow in growth -- or at least compared to goslings in other areas.

Goslings in Cortland, NY (where I live) hatched a week earlier than Central Park goslings, but they are nearly twice their size.
Part of me wants to think that maybe geese in upstate NY are bigger and more robust as we have much harsher winters than NYC, but that is probably denial.

I am concerned for the goslings at the Reservoir -- but desperately hoping I am wrong.  Perhaps I am just needlessly worrying due to past negative history in Central Park.

Certainly, all NYC parks are hostile to Canada geese.
And sadly the hostility is no longer limited to geese alone.

Although the city has made no official announcement yet, the Wildlife Feeding Ban appears to be a done deal.

The Parks Department pushed it and the Mayor supports it.

Bronx Animal Rights Electors is planning another rally in a couple of weeks at City Hall, but unless Roxanne can attract a substantial crowd of protesters to the ban or there is serious media coverage, the ban will go into effect this summer.

So, in addition to the removal of many natural food sources (nut, seed and fruit-bearing trees; vegetation), disbursement of pesticides and employment of wildlife harassment services such as "Geese Police," supplemental food sources as represented by human feeders will also be "removed" through banning and criminalization.

It's hard to imagine a summer much worse for NYC park wildlife than what was last summer.

But this upcoming summer might be it.

Two weeks ago, I asked if most New Yorkers really want wildlife-empty parks?

I don't know that New Yorkers actually "want" parks with little to no wildlife.

But nor do they seem to object.

Perhaps the only thing necessary for misfortune to prosper is good people doing nothing.


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