The Mad Men Cometh

Peaceful Canada geese at Jackie Onassis Reservoir, Central Park. But, what does next few weeks have in store for them?

My favorite TV show by far, is Mad Men.

Not only is the writing, acting and story telling on this show superlative, but, the characters all too real, flawed and human.

But, it is the opening, cartoon footage of a man falling from a building to eventually be caught by a female foot before hitting the ground that is particularly intriguing.

I often feel I am falling from a building (at least mood wise). Only I don't perceive a human foot to catch me.

There was a time when the geese and ducks of Central Park caught and uplifted me from troubled or despaired moods.

That was particularly experienced and acknowledged on 9-11-2001 when NYC was attacked by terrorists, thousands of people died and the World Trade Center reduced to a pile of smoldering rubble.

It was a frightening and depressing period of grief and mourning for both, our city and the nation to be plunged into.

At the time, however,  I found great solace, joy and comfort in watching how the rest of the world (mainly, the wildlife of our parks) went on as if nothing had happened.

I was particularly enamored of Canada geese and mallards as these very social birds so welcome humans into their world and are so willing to share.

Somehow, the geese and ducks engendered in me a sense of hope, peace and renewal.

They were the foot that captured and saved, so to speak.

More than a decade from that terrible time in history (and my personal spiritual awakening by birds in a park)  many of those same birds have become targets for human frustration, hostility and misplaced aggression.

I am speaking of course of the Canada geese.

Despite the best efforts of myself and many other good people to try and "pay it forward" by promoting a peaceful and accepting attitude towards geese and other wildlife in our parks, our public officials insist on viewing and treating these animals as winged "terrorists" of our skies and parks. -- A label that does not speak to any kind of reality.

On the contrary, derisive depictions of geese as "threats" to humans in any manner are more comparable to propaganda campaigns that would rival anything put out by the ad men of Madison Avenue.

Geese are not "winged terrorists."  They are not "pests" or "nuisance." And they represent no viable threat whatsoever to humans, other wildlife or the environment.

On the contrary, Canada geese are models for the best of human behavior that we might ourselves aspire to such as devotion and organization to kind, loyalty to mate, protection of offspring and peace with nature.  

So, why are geese so persecuted, harassed and targeted for destruction in New York City and elsewhere?

That is a difficult question to answer as there are no sound or reasonable answers, other than human arrogance, propaganda and intolerance.

Already, USDA is doing goose "surveys" around New York City parks and within weeks their agents will once again descend (in early morning hours) with nets, crates and trucks to capture and ship hundreds of flightless, terrorized and defenseless park geese to slaughterhouses upstate:

http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/local/2013/06/11/volunteers-flock-to-save-nycs-canada-geese/

The mostly clandestine operations are witnessed by few people. -- Indeed, most New Yorkers are not even aware of them.

The goose killing contract between NYC and USDA runs through 2014.

Until then, the source of what used to be for me, the foot lifting out of despair, will be instead, a source of the despair itself.

But, not because of the geese.

Because of the "mad men" who come to kill them.

That only there was a foot to lift us out of the despair and destruction of our own folly. -- PCA

                                                               



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A Dubious Competition -- Prospect Park or Central Park, the Worst Place for Wildlife?

Connor, Carol, Cochise and Connie. Four domestic ducks at Harlem Meer who have stayed at edge of grass at "protected" area near Dana Center since beginning of spring.  These birds rarely venture more than 30 or 40 feet from location and mostly stay out of water during spring "fishing."

Mama mallard and two surviving ducklings trying to catch brief respite yesterday before onslaught of human fishing activity at Harlem Meer.

 "When it rains, it pours."

No sooner had I written of the loss of beautiful and ever-trusting and cheerful Honker at Harlem Meer (in the aftermath of heavy fishing) then there are two reports from Brooklyn's Prospect Park of injured wildlife there due to discarded fishing tackle:

Swans: Hooked swans rescued in Prospect Park • The Brooklyn Paper

And a Cormorant:   Snapshots of Nature: Caught Up

The anemic response and denial of Prospect Park Alliance spokesman, Paul Nelson to the injured swans is unacceptable.

To say, "We have a long commitment to the education of future fishermen" is completely dismissive in the face of so much maiming, terrorizing and death to the wildlife of both, Central Park and Prospect Park due to careless and irresponsible over-fishing. 

The sheer volume of fishing alone at Harlem Meer has been enough this spring to send the one swan flying out of the park and the flightless (marooned) domestic ducks hiding in a corner ever since the first fishermen arrived almost three months ago.

One cannot help but wonder if these two parks are in some kind of macabre competition with each other for "The worst place in New York City for wildlife to try and survive?"

If so, Prospect Park takes the booby prize for that one, since in 2010, 368 of its resident Canada geese and goslings were rounded up by USDA and gassed.

Central Park "only" harasses geese and oils their eggs.

But, both parks are notorious for denial, neglect and endless excuses for the failures to both, enforce fishing rules as well as providing rescue and treatment for suffering wildlife injured as result of discarded fishing lines and hooks.

Granted, the rescue of a maimed wild cormorant is difficult as these birds are wary of humans and are quick and deep divers under the water.

But, the goal should be to prevent these injuries in the first place so that birds and other wildlife do not require rescue in the first place!

But, instead, these parks heavily promote and encourage fishing and in the case of Central Park, (The Dana Discovery Center) actually rents out fishing equipment.

But, there is virtually zero investment to the proper equipping of Park Rangers for wildlife rescue (as not only reported repeatedly in this blog, but also in the blog link above). 

To see Park Rangers show up to "rescue" large waterfowl with nothing more than a cat carrier is pathetic, if not laughable. Small fishing nets suitable for a pigeon don't do the job for a goose, swan or cormorant.

Despite the rosy claims of park spokespersons, the facts contradict them.

It is raining heavily in New York City today.

Sadly, it seems drenching downpours are the only real "break" wildlife gets in our parks during spring and summer from the otherwise, constant encroachments upon their spaces and the scourge of discarded fishing lines and hooks left carelessly in their water to maim everything from turtles, to swans, to ducks, to egrets, to geese to cormorants.

"Rain, rain, stay till the end of summer days."

With the winds of autumn and the icy snows of winter, will finally come an ironic peace. -- PCA

                                                         


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Spring's First (known) Casualty -- Honker, a Too Human-Trusting Duck?

Harry and Honker last week at Harlem Meer.

Harry yesterday searching on rock.

Fishermen today at east Harlem Meer area Honker and Harry stayed throughout spring.

"They can survive blizzards, hurricanes, Nor'Easters, sub-freezing temperatures and frozen lakes.

But, they cannot survive humans."

I have observed and written the above more than once in this blog and unfortunately, am forced to write it again.

It was not expected that we would get through an entire spring in Central Park without the loss of at least one of the few domestic (flightless) ducks. Indeed that sadly seems to be the case once again.

"Honker," one of the two Khaki Campbell ducks at Harlem Meer for more than a year has not been seen since last Thursday.

I have searched throughout the entire lake several times and there is no sign of her. 

Honker's  mallard drake boyfriend, "Harry" was photographed standing alone on a rock yesterday.  -- The same rock he was often seen hanging out with his lady love over the past several months.

Something about Harry's somewhat forlorn image yesterday told me all I needed to know.

Nevertheless, I returned to the Meer this morning with faded hope that I still might find Honker.  Perhaps she had been hiding out in the marshes somewhere, I tried to tell myself.

But, the east side of the lake where Honker and Harry regularly stayed throughout the spring was instead filled with people and kids fishing this morning.

Almost all of the ducks and couple of Canada geese still at Harlem Meer were congregated in the small, fenced in ("protected") area adjacent to the Dana Discovery Center.   That is, in fact, where the four domestic ducks abandoned last November to Harlem Meer have guardedly stayed for the entire spring. 

Now, it seems the rest of the few remaining ducks (and geese) are joining them on the small grassy patch, as there are almost no other areas around Harlem Meer that are free of fishing.

But, both Honker and Wiggly (the other Khaki Campbell) remained true to their independent and (too?) human-trusting spirits over the spring and elected to stay in the more public areas of Harlem Meer.  

From the beginning, these two domestic ducks have always been higher "risk takers" than most of the wild ducks and geese and even other domestics.

Both ducks have always been social with people -- Honker in fact being featured in the "While His Dad Fished, the Boy Fed Birds" blog entry here a few days ago.  (Now, I have to wonder if such trust and friendliness with people and kids has actually cost Honker her life?)

I remember first becoming aware of Honker towards the end of winter in 2012:

At first, I did not know if Honker was a girl or a boy, but she was extremely vocal (thus the name) and being bigger than the mallards, was obviously a domestic duck like Wiggly.

There were many times I could not tell Wiggly and Honker apart.

It was Brad (the domestic Rouen duck) who eventually brought Wiggly and Honker together and both, mentored and protected them throughout the remaining winter, as well as the spring and summer of 2012.

The three domestic ducks formed what I used to call, "The Bradley Brigade" and represented top hierarchy among the waterfowl of Harlem Meer.  At that time, it seemed Brad ruled the entire Meer and not always so kindly towards other ducks -- particularly mallards and particularly in spring.

But, The Bradley Brigade hierarchy came crashing down on the last day of summer of 2012.

That is when Brad suddenly took ill and perished within a couple of days. 

It seemed no small irony that Brad's death came upon the heels of one of the heaviest fishing weekends of the entire season and on the last day of summer ("The cruel season" as I call it.)

No, we cannot get through one spring or summer without loss. And the spring and summer of 2012 were no exceptions with the spring taking "Piggly" (Wiggly's former flockmate) and the summer taking Brad, my personal favorite of all the Central Park ducks.

I can still remember Brad's haunting gaze to me when I turned to leave on that dismal last day of summer.   I knew he was very ill as he barely moved on the water and his head was bowed down, as if already haven given up.

But, at last Brad bravely lifted his head and looked straight at me to say a final "Goodbye."

I knew I would never see him again.

Following Brad's (to me, inexcusable) death, Central Park finally posted "Fishing Rules" signs around Harlem Meer -- but they came too late to save Brad or quite frankly, any of the other birds who eventually become casualties of fishing and other human activities (like rock throwing) over the spring and summer.

Wiggly and Honker parted ways after losing their mentor and flock leader in 2012. Eventually however, Wiggly took on the role of "leader" at Harlem Meer this past winter (though in a much more unassuming and gentle manner than Brad). 

It was Wiggly who organized the remaining ducks at the Meer (including the four new domestics) into a 24/7 swimming party in order to maintain a small pool of open water on an otherwise frozen lake in January. 

So intent on maintaining open water was Wiggly then,  that she did not even take any breaks to eat. 

It was also about that time that Wiggly took up with a mallard drake, (Romeo), but it is not clear if this was due to romantic yearnings or the more pragmatic approach of simply enticing a mallard to stay on a frozen lake and help to work it.

All the other mallards had, after all, abandoned Harlem Meer once it froze over in January.  Romeo was the only mallard to stay and that was entirely due to the seduction of Wiggly.  -- A seduction that is still very much in tact and thriving today.

For her part, Honker maintained her independence, but also cooperated with the other ducks in terms of working the open water through the winter.

But, at the first signs of spring, Honker too, took up with a wild mallard drake -- Harry in this case.

And all seemed to be going reasonably well -- until the past few days.

Once again, loss appears to follow (as it did with Brad) upon the heels of especially heavy fishing days at Harlem Meer.

"Coincidence?"

Anything is possible, but I personally don't believe this to be mere coincidence.

Yesterday, three fishermen, seeking to hook fish, instead brought up huge wads of tangled fishing line from the water at the west side of the lake.  (Guess this helps explain why the few remaining ducks and geese at Harlem Meer totally avoid the west side of the lake where most of the fishing usually occurs.)

Some of the fishing line wrapped around one of the fishermen causing him to nearly panic:

"Damn, how do you get this stuff off?"

Fortunately, one of his buddies helped to unravel the fishing line from the man's torso and promptly discarded it  -- and the huge wad he had also caught -- into a receptacle.

This had to represent the only time I have been glad to see fishermen at Harlem Meer -- in this case, removing dangerous fishing debris from the water.

But, the fishermen weren't too happy.  They promptly packed up their gear and from what I could tell, left Harlem Meer.  Apparently, cleaning up garbage left from their fellow fishermen wasn't these guys' idea of a "fun day" at Central Park.

But, it was obviously not a fun day for me either.

And this morning, noting the area where Honker always stayed with her mallard boyfriend to be then filled with fishing people was even less fun.

I did not see Harry on the small rock today seemingly searching for and grieving his lost love.

If I saw Harry at all, it was in the protected area by the Dana Center with nearly all of the other Harlem Meer ducks (and two geese) now.

Certain images never leave you.

For me, the image of Brad saying "goodbye" the last day I ever saw him and yesterday, the image of Harry looking out over a then very duck-empty lake.

Honker was no where to be found.   -- PCA

                                                                     


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"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!" the Resilient Geese Say

"Where there is will, there is way!"

 

Although Canada geese are normally ground nesting birds, they are seemingly resorting to incredible and creative measures these days to insure their eggs hatch -- including building nests on top of buildings, terraces and even a high tower overlooking a ball field.

From Sandspoint, Long Island comes this amazing video shot this past week of goslings having to jump 100 feet to the ground from a tower:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfmTkTcPNCE

Incredibly all six goslings survived the perilous leap and are later photographed at a nearby lake swimming with their proud parents:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201227326106064&set=o.151220101555497&type=1

It has often been written in this blog of the adaptability of Canada geese and the video and photograph above are evidence to that willingness and capability to adapt and survive even the predations and egg destructions of man.

All over the country, Canada geese have been (for some years now), widely hunted, slaughtered, gassed, "relocated" (when flightless) to hunting ranges, harassed and finally (the last insult), their eggs destroyed.

But, it would be difficult for even most humans to get to a goose nest 100 feet off the ground.

About a week ago, I wrote of the "abuses" of non-lethal goose population control methods such as harassment and egg addling when conducted for mere reasons of convenience as opposed to verifiable goose "overpopulation" problems in an area.

The consequences of such abuse can result in a much smarter, more resilient and far more adaptable bird.  A bird who (like very maligned and persecuted coyotes) figures out how to "compensate" for endless predations by breeding more and breeding in unusual places.

Studies conducted on coyotes over the years have, for example, indicated that when breeding in areas they are not relentlessly persecuted and killed, they produce much smaller litters and breed less often.  

That is the basic rule of nature.

Animals breed according the carrying capacity of the environment and the volume of predations upon them.  (The same is actually true of humans who reproduce more babies in areas plagued by war, poverty and high losses of young.)

Put simply, the more predation, the more various life forms reproduce in attempt to compensate for that predation and loss.

Of course, ten of thousands of species have ultimately succumbed to the predations of man and future human generations are unlikely to ever see a bengal tiger, rhino or elephant in the wild.  These animals simply cannot reproduce enough to make up for unending human assault and destruction upon them.

But, coyotes and Canada geese appear to be different.

There is a YouTube video (produced by HSUS) showing how various forms of goose harassment can and do effectively eliminate the so-called "need" for goose roundups and gassings in urban parks.

HSUS: Canada goose gassing "How do you know they're dead?" - YouTube

But, one needs to question where we draw the lines on "tools" represented by harassment and egg destruction?

Do we only pull the plugs on these manipulations of nature when there are NO geese left to "harass" and no eggs to oil in urban parks?

But, where did all the hazed and harassed geese go?

More than fifty years ago, when realizing that wild, migratory Canada geese were on the verge of extinction due to over-hunting, Wildlife Biologists and hunting clubs sought to re-establish the Canada goose population through a captive breeding program in which the descendents of human-raised (and imprinted) geese were released throughout the United States.

But, "experts" apparently did not figure that geese hatched in this country would have no instinct to "migrate" to countries far north and further, that geese acclimated to humans would no longer have natural fear of heavily human populated areas.

Thus, the "resident" Canada goose was essentially created by humans.

The same resident Canada goose that is now so vilified and endlessly persecuted by the very species that created them.

So, do we now compound our errors and tampering with wildlife by creating even more ways to torment, "chase" and destroy?

Where do the wild, resident Canada geese now go when harassed from or destroyed in urban parks and wildlife refuges?

Apparently, they go to shopping malls, college campuses and even high towers overlooking ball fields.

"Where there's a will, there's a way!"  the ever-adaptable Canada goose says.

And some of us humans who actually respect and value geese ask, "What would happen if we simply learned to live with geese and left them alone?"

One ventures to guess that (contrary to all the hype), the sky would not fall down and nor would tiny goslings be forced to jump from 100 foot towers as means of adaptation to human ignorance and intolerance. -- PCA

                              


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A Great Deception -- Geese and Goslings Separated and "Relocated" in Utah

Few animals more protective of young than Canada geese. But, at what price?

  Apparently, geese have nested earlier and are molting earlier in Utah (a generally warmer climate than New York).

But, the flightless geese and their recently hatched goslings are now being rounded up, separated and "relocated" to places where their outcomes are virtually doomed.

http://fox13now.com/2013/06/03/urban-geese-relocated-in-annual-roundup/

While the news video above intimates "happy endings" for the separated goose families, it is more comparable to McDonald's advertisements of "happy meals" of slaughtered animal corpses.

Geese are extremely family oriented.  Goslings stay with their parents for a full year following hatching and often even years following (with the exception of nesting seasons).

So, why would wildlife officials separate the families with any benign intent? 

Flightless goslings without parents will be easy prey for predators (and even other territorial birds) and the adult, flightless geese will be easy targets at a hunting preserve. 

This is not the "feel good" story that the media makes it out to be. 

It is rather, a great deception.

If wildlife officials seriously wanted to "manage" the goose population in Salt Lake City parks,  they would have oiled the eggs before hatching and hired a goose hazing company with trained Border Collies to move geese along naturally.   Such would have been cheaper, more effective and humane than the grand "relocation" scheme.  

As noted in this blog, such methods have worked very well in Central Park (to my personal dismay) where even today, the resident goose population remains very low.

Call me an over-sentimentalist "anthropomorphic," but I feel for these stressed and flightless parent geese
suddenly stripped of their young and dropped off at a hunting preserve while their totally defenseless and now parentless goslings are dumped to fend for themselves against predators and territorial birds in a location few if any humans will ever see. 

"Out of sight, out of mind" as the saying goes.

Like McDonalds in more ways than one.

God forbid any of us look beyond the colorful, happy-faced wrappings of slaughtered animal parts in a fast food restaurant or media "feel good" stories that defy common sense and all we know about nature and Canada geese.  -- PCA

                               


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His Father Fished While the Boy Fed Birds

A young boy gently tossing treats to Honker and Harry this morning at Harlem Meer while his dad fished.

Even at 9 AM the sun was already bearing down like some overhead ball of fire this morning.

Despite the early heat, thousands of runners and cyclists were pounding the paths of Central Park and scores of fisher people were already casting long lines at Harlem Meer.

As one who neither likes heat nor crowds I was nearly ready to pack it in after walking half way around the Jackie Onassis Reservoir.

But, the discovery of some new Canada geese on the Reservoir water (including "Kelly" the half blind goose and her mate who used to hang at Harlem Meer) prompted curiosity to investigate the actual situation at the Meer.   (Besides, it had been a couple of days since I checked on the six domestic ducks there.  How were they doing with the sudden onslaught of high heat and crowds?)

As expected, the Meer was buzzing with all kinds of human activity, including picnics and lots of fishing.

But, the mama mallard and her two ducklings were still hanging in there, as were a small number of geese, still scooping up excess aquatic plants and weeds in the water.

(The lake has been looking a lot cleaner at Harlem Meer since the geese showed up more than a week ago.  Despite all the "complaints" against them, geese are actually helpful to watercourses in terms of keeping bugs and weeds in check.)

The four domestic ducks abandoned to the Meer last November were in their usual place.

Since the beginning of spring, Cochise, Conner, Carol and Connie rarely venture far from the fenced in grassy area near the Dana Center.  Though taking occasional swims in the nearby water, its as though they know the one reasonably "safe" place for them is the "protected" (off limits to fishing) area of the Dana Center. 

For me, its a little sad to see this as I so remember these four ducks having command of virtually the entire lake over the winter.

But, if Cochise, Conner, Carol and Connie have learned anything in these 7 months at Harlem Meer, it is wariness and caution during the warm months.  They no longer prance up to humans as they first did when dropped off at the Meer last fall.   And they apparently have learned how to read signs.

Surprisingly, Wiggly and her mallard drake lover, Romeo were not in their usual public area to the north east of the Mere. 

Though Wiggly is normally a high risk taker and quite trusting of humans, she is not stupid.

Apparently noting the high number of fisher people all around the lake, she elected to take herself and her boyfriend to the "protected" fenced in area around the other side of the Dana Center.   This is also an area where the Mama mallard often takes her ducklings when things get too overwhelming at the Mere.  

I am quite convinced at this point, that ducks, both wild and domestic are capable of reading human signs.  They are well aware of the few protected and "No fishing" areas around Harlem Mere.

Of the various human activities around Harlem Mere this morning, the one that was most gratifying to see was the regular monitoring of the area by Central Park Conservancy personnel.

Perhaps this explains why the area was clean of debris and fishing lines, as well as the fisher people appearing to follow the rules.

It was good (at least for the moment), not to see people and kids dunking loose fishing lines into the water.  -- A situation that spells injured and crippled wildlife just waiting to happen.

After walking nearly around the entire Meer, I was still seeking Honker and her mallard drake boyfriend, "Harry" who are usually towards the south east side of the lake.

And sure enough, the two lovebirds were there.

But, Honker and Harry were not alone.

A young boy was spending time with them and gently tossing small pieces of whole wheat bread which Honker and Harry happily scooped up from the grass.

"That's nice that you do that," I said to the boy who was about 8 or 9.  "They really like you."

The boy smiled and replied, "I really like them."

"Can I take a picture of you feeding the ducks?" I asked.  

"Sure."

I suggested to the boy that he feed the ducks closer to the water as it was safer for them in event they needed to escape from any danger and he was grateful for the information.  I then shared with him specific information about Honker and Harry and how to tell male ducks from females. 

"But, in about a month from now, the male ducks will also turn brown like the females and it will be hard to tell them apart." I added. 

"Really?  Why is that?" the boy asked curiously.

"The drakes are brightly colored in the fall, winter and spring in order to attract females. But, by the summer, they already are paired and don't need the flashy coloring.  They will turn back to the bright colors in the fall." I smiled.

"Where are the all the fish?" the boy asked.

"I suspect the fish, like the geese, go to the middle of the water to avoid the fisher people," I replied.  "I don't think they enjoy getting caught."

The boy thought seriously for a moment and then said, "I have never fished."

This was particularly interesting because I believe his dad was fishing nearby.

I finally bade the young boy a good day and began to walk away.

"Remember, if you come here regularly, the ducks will get to know and appreciate you." I said, smiling. 

He smiled back but then returned to tossing small bits of bread to Honker and Harry.

Walking home, I thought about the pleasant encounter with the young boy who seemed to have a special connection to the animals of Harlem Meer.

Why is it, I wondered, that some kids have a special affinity with animals and nature and others don't?

Is this something that is taught by parents and environment or is it something that some children are born with?

In my own case, I grew up in a family that was kind and respectful towards animals, but it seemed to go further in myself from as early as I can remember.

I recall once, when about 7-years-old, my uncle and grandmother took me fishing by the bay at Fire Island. 

My uncle caught a small sunfish and when I saw it squiggling and flapping around on the deck, I screamed.  

"He can't breathe! He can't breathe!" I cried inconsolably.  

Nothing my grandmother or uncle said could make me feel better about that day and I was obviously never forced to go fishing again.

Another time in Texas, my mother had to ask a man from a store to carry me in because I refused to step on beetles that were covering the sidewalk in front.

At 8 years of age, I rescued my first cat (which we had 17 years) and at 9 I rescued a pigeon with a broken wing. 

My grandmother prepared a splint for the pigeon made of popsicle sticks and we kept him in a box on the fire escape until his wing healed.  (It was really funny when "Chipper's" wing began to heal and he took test flights through our hall way.  I remember my mom screaming, "Jesus! Its like having a bat!")

In my own case, I would have to say feeling and empathy for animals was something I was born with, though it was encouraged further by my family, particularly the nurturing ways of my grandmother.

I have a sense that it was probably the same with the young boy met earlier today.

After all, his father fished, while the boy fed birds. -- PCA

                                                             


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Arrivals of Heat, Crowds and New Challenges to City Parks and Wildlife

Geese pair at Jackie Onassis Reservoir.  Gander watches while his mate  peacefully eats.

Signs taped up around Reservoir last night.

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Some Like it Hot

The heat is on in New York City. 

And as temperatures soar into the 90's over these three days, human activity in public parks has likewise soared off the charts.

Most surprising are the thousands of runners who seem to delight in running in hot, humid and generally miserable weather. Perhaps they enjoy drowning in sweat or perhaps they are just a bit masochistic.

The only time one would ever catch me running is when temperatures and wind chills hover near zero and I desperately need to generate some quick and cheap warmth.

But, I must be some kind of aberration -- in more ways than one.

Unlike Central Park and city leadership, I become a bit nervous, the more people that descend on city parks, most of whom are not regular visitors year around.

Last night for example:  Some tourists walking around the Jackie Onassis Reservoir and noting a couple of raccoons skimming along the water banks and munching at aquatic plants.

"They must have rabies!" a man announced to his companions.

"No," I answered in feeble attempt to educate.  "These raccoons have been here for years. You see them eating plants.  Rabid animals cannot eat."

Other brain challenged people walking around the Reservoir last night noticed the pair of geese resting along the rocky ridges near the water.

"I bet they would be good for dinner!  I wonder if they have eggs?"

This person I did not answer as I was not seeking confrontation. But, people like this test one's patience and generally make a "walk in the park" unpleasant.

One wants to say, "If you have that little respect for wildlife in a park, then stay home or go to McDonalds and munch on all the cadavers you want."   But, results of a statement like that wouldn't be good.

For these reasons and more, I am actually grateful for the runners who represent most of the human traffic around the Reservoir.  

They are in their own world and seem to notice or comment on nothing around them.

The fact is, were it not for the runners laying claim to the path around the Reservoir, it would otherwise be packed with fishermen.

The Reservoir is one of only two watercourses in Central Park that doesn't permit fishing (The other is Turtle Pond.)

The fishes, waterfowl and I have the runners to thank for that.

But, I will never understand why they so love running in the oppressive, unrelenting heat.  I get tired and sweaty just looking at them.

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Social, Peaceful Geese, Respecting of Boundaries

There are currently 4 geese at the Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park in addition to a tiny number of mallards, cormorants and herons.

The two geese whose 3 eggs met an unkind fate last week and two other geese who stay at the west side of the watercourse.

The disappointed, would-be parent geese were in the middle of the water last night and surprisingly noticed me some good distance away.  (I say, "surprisingly" because I was amongst thousands of other people around the perimeter of the Reservoir.)   They immediately took off flying in my direction and landed with the precision of accomplished water skiers along the water in front of me.

I found this action very ingratiating as the geese not only remember and recognize humans (even from far away) but are immensely social animals who never miss an opportunity to say, "Hi" and engage in friendly interaction with humans they know.

The two pairs of geese also appear to have respect for the boundaries of the other with one couple staying on the east side of the Reservoir all the time and the other claiming the west side.

One cannot help but wonder if all four geese know each other and are possibly related?

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Pesticide Spraying in Lieu of Geese and Other Insect-eating Animals?

It is still not clear why the eggs of the Reservoir geese failed to hatch and why the goslings failed to develop, though as noted previously, egg oiling ("addling") is highly suspected. That the eggs of three other nesting goose pairs at Central Park also failed to hatch lends credence to this suspicion. 

There is, however, another possibility that frequent "Pesticides" spraying in Central Park (and other parks) might be having negative impact, not only on geese, but other wildlife.

Many birds and other animals graze on the grasses and eat bugs that are routinely sprayed with chemical pesticides and one has to wonder about long range consequences on health and/or ability of natural wildife to reproduce? 

Last night, signs were taped along the Jackie Onassis Reservoir informing people of recent pesticide spraying in the area. 

The question is, can geese and the other animals of our parks read the signs?

One suspects if they could, they would avoid the areas and not try to reproduce and raise young in them.

Perhaps were there more geese and other insect eating animals at the Reservoir and other areas of Central Park, the pesticides would not be so "needed?"

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The Greater the Crowds, the Greater Obligation to Be Aware

As noted at the top of this entry, the warm weather attracts millions of visitors to city parks, most of whom do not attend year round.

While the overwhelming majority of people are of good intent, that is unfortunately not true of all.

This statement is not only true of New York City, but other places around the country that similarly attract "outsiders" so to speak.

Out of San Antonio, Texas, comes this disturbing story today from the famous "River Walk" there:

http://m.ksat.com/news/george-famous-river-walk-duck-tortured-killed/-/15126192/20367628/-/5hmh4fz/-/index.html

This is the reason I so worry for the domestic ducks of Central Park, in addition to other wildlife in our parks during the spring and summer.

That a "loved" duck in a popular tourist spot was brutally tortured and killed by passing thugs is something to give us pause.

It only takes one or two sickos to wantonly destroy in our city parks. They wreak havoc and quickly move on.

The other night when at a very crowded Harlem Meer, a young boy picked up pebbles from the grass and was about to throw them at the four domestic ducks quietly resting on the "protected" grassy area near the Dana Center.

"Stop!" I called out to the boy who was about 10-years-old. "You can't throw stuff at the wildlife here.  You need to show respect."

The boy dropped the pebbles, but at that moment, a woman walking at least 20 feet in front of us turned around and yelled at me.

"You got something to say, you say it to me!" she hollered.

I did not even realize the woman was there, she was so far in front of me and the small group of kids she was supposedly monitoring.

I wanted to point out that the boy could have easily strayed from her or potentially even been kidnapped, but thought better of it and simply walked away.

Later in the evening I questioned my (actually gentle) admonition of this boy.  Am I getting too paranoid and reactive over the safety of wildlife -- particularly the domestic (flightless) ducks of our parks?  Is it better to turn a blind eye to everything and just "hope" that all the animals survive the spring and summer?

Unfortunately, judging from past experiences, that has not worked out very well.  All known ducks and geese who have vanished or perished in Central Park over the years have met their demise in spring or summer and presumably at the hands of humans.

But, it was only when seeing the above news video today that I believe I did the right thing when prompting the young boy to put down the pebbles.

As our city is so fond of telling its people, "When you see something, say something."

It may not make you popular or liked, but it can sometimes mean the difference between insuring safety for people and animals or just reacting in horror and despair when something bad happens (like the people in San Antonio today).   

Hopefully, when returning to the Meer tonight, everything will be OK and the animals safe.

Safety isn't something to be merely wished for. It needs to be work for as well.  -- PCA

                                                           



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