Bucolic Paradise or Stepford Park?

I recall in the 1970's reading, "The Stepford Wives" by Ira Levin which was since made into two movies, neither of which lived up to the book. 

The basic premise of the book was the seeking of "perfection" at the cost of flawed humanity. 

A young photographer and housewife is forced to question her sanity when moving into a "ideallic" Connecticut suburb where all the "happy housewives" act like robots under the control and manipulation of their husbands. All the homes, lawns and wives are seemingly "perfect" and yet something is horribly amiss. 

I was reminded of this book while watching the video below recently posted on the Central Park Facebook page. 

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10156975658244482&id=37965424481

The nearly ten-minute video highlights Harlem Meer and all the big "renovation" plans for it to transform into a "bucolic" center for all manner of "recreational activities" from ice skating to swimming to boating to fishing. Although there is already an ice skating rink at the Meer, plans include turning the lake into further ice skating vehicle during the winter. 

The smiles and wild exuberance of both, the interviewer and interviewee lead the video watcher to conclude that the newly renovated Harlem Meer will be nothing short of paradise itself.  All we need are some angels to float down from the skies. 

But for sure, birds won't be welcomed to float down from the skies -- especially waterbirds. 

Despite numerous pans of Harlem Meer during the video, one is hard pressed to find even one goose, duck or any bird on the entire lake. 

This represents drastic and dramatic change from only a few years ago when there would typically be up to 100 ducks and several dozen geese this time of year. 

What happened to them all in this "bucolic" and sanitized paradise? 

Yes, it is all so "perfect." And everyone is so "happy." 

And that is exactly why I was reminded of an old book when watching the video and why I suggested in comment that Central Park change its name to "Stepford Park." 

But of course it is me who is the crazy one, isn't it? 

Sent from Samsung tablet

"Central Park Wants No Geese At All."

"Central Park wants no geese at all."

Such was part of a conversation yesterday with Joe, an employee of "Geese Chasers" who is tasked with the job of harassing Canada geese out of Central Park.  It does not matter if the geese are migratory or resident. All are unwelcomed in Central Park. 

To the company's credit, they at least return phone calls and are willing to discuss harassment practices. --  Unlike the Central Park Conservancy. 

Since park observer and wildlife advocate, Laura Taylor, photographed the Geese Chasers' vehicle patrolling Central Park more than a month ago, we have repeatedly tried to get the Conservancy to confirm and discuss harassment of migratory birds in Central Park. 

But both, phone calls and letters have been met with assurances "someone will get back to you" but no one ever does.  Phone messages are not returned and emails unresponded to. 

At least six people I know have experienced the Conservancy blowing off all questions and attempts to discuss continued harassment of geese in Central Park, as well as egg destruction and even destruction of food sources as occurred at the Jackie Onassis Reservoir this past summer in attempt to starve seven goslings that hatched. 

We have, of course long suspected that it was the goal of not just Central Park, but New York City itself to "eliminate" all geese.  It was not just a matter of "population control" (as is often claimed), but rather, extirpation. But now, finally, we had verbal confirmation of what was already known. 

Annual mass killings of New York City geese by USDA "Wildlife Services," in addition to egg destruction in all city parks, in addition to relentless harassment -- even on migratory birds guarantees that "resident" Canada geese should be entirely eliminated in NYC within a few more years.  We are 90% already there. 

Companies like Geese Chasers, (though apparently good about returning phone messages) are also in the business of vilifying geese as much as possible in order to ensure growing business contracts.  According to Geese Chasers, the geese "don't migrate anymore" (not true) and they destroy parks (also not true).  

But Geese Chasers ought be careful about fear-mongering and demonizing geese too much as extermination campaigns are ultimately bad for business. 

Apart from learning that Central Park wants all geese gone, other things of interest came out of the conversation with Joe yesterday: 

When asking him why mallard populations have plummeted in Central Park if he is "only harassing geese," Joe speculated that mallards left due to "Salmonella outbreak" that killed turtles at Turtle Pond.  

But mallards have disappeared throughout Central Park and not just at Turtle Pond. And a sick Turtle was recently observed at the Pool in Central Park. 

Nearly two years ago, a claimed Distemper outbreak apparently killed all but a few raccoons in 843 acre Central Park. 

Are new diseases killing off remaining wildlife?  Or, is something more nefarious occurring? 

Joe vehemently denied that Geese Chasers uses drones to harass the geese as reported by an eyewitness. 

"Oh," he laughed, "I wish I could use drones to film our work, but the dog is very fearful of them." 

How does Joe know the dog is fearful of drones if he never used them?  This struck me as "thou protests too much." 

The conversation with the gentleman from Geese Chasers soon deteriorated from there. I told Joe of my friend, Liliana, who is 76-years-old and whose only joy in life was enjoying the geese and ducks at the Boat Lake in Central Park.  

"She is so depressed now because she goes to the park and there is nothing." 

"Some people get upset, but it has to be done," Joe said dismissively. 

"Wildlife-empy parks hurt people as well as geese!" I retorted. 

But the truth is, our argument is not with Geese Chasers as much as it is with Central Park. 

It is the decision of Central Park Conservancy to not just "harass" a few resident geese for population management, but to extirpate ALL remaining resident geese in Central Park (which is less than 40) as well as to terrorize and disrupt hundreds of migratory geese and ducks who briefly rest or winter at Central Park this time of year. 

That all of this wildlife intolerance is supposedly acceptable to New Yorkers does not speak well for our professed "concerns" for vanishing bird populations and animal extinctions throughout the world. 

All extinctions begin locally and somewhere. 

                                        ---------------