Ghosts and Geese of Future Past -- Prospect Park

On the anniversary of the infamous Prospect Park goose gassings of 2010, one thing not seen then or now is a Canada goose peacefully swimming on the water.

Tomorrow (July 8) marks the fourth anniversary of the infamous goose gassing of 2010 that took place at Prospect Park. On that fateful morning, agents from USDA WS swooped into the famous Brooklyn park at the crack of dawn to terrorize, capture and send for gassing, all 362 of its Canada geese and their helpless goslings.

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Early arrivers to the park that morning, questioned park staffers of what happened to all the geese?  They were initially told the geese, "flew away to a nearby cemetery."

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But, two park goers, Anne-Katrin Tietz and Ed Bahlman were aware that molting geese and their young goslings were incapable of flying anywhere.  When finding scattered feathers and plastic zip ties strewn around the lake, they knew something unnatural and nefarious had occurred and immediately called The New York Times.

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The New York Times assigned a young reporter, Isolde Raftery to travel to Prospect Park and investigate the story.

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While it may have been easy to mislead and blow off questioning park goers, Prospect Park and government officials could not so easily blow off a reporter from the NY Times.

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Ms. Raftery's uncovering and reporting of a government-led massacre of all Prospect Park's geese later went national and subsequent follow-up reports ran for some weeks in the Times:

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Officials Plan to Eliminate 170,000 Canada Geese in New York - NYTimes.com

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In the wake of the stunning wildlife slaughter and negative publicity for Prospect Park, a number of community residents suddenly took to activism.  One set up a Facebook page devoted to the slain geese of Prospect Park (12) For the love of the geese in Prospect Park  and another, Mary Beth Purdy Artz, organized a vigil and a rally that were held at PP in the weeks and months following the goose killings.

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Some time after that, a young Brooklyn law student, David Karopkin, organized what is now known as (27) GooseWatch NYC specifically to monitor NYC geese during USDA WS culls and to hopefully document the roundups when and where they occurred.  Explained Mr. Karopkin, "I don't want to be asleep the next time" one of the secret massacres occurred either in Prospect Park or elsewhere in the city.

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This was a very noble goal and has served over the years to presumably make Wildlife Services a little uncomfortable in pursuing their NYC goose exterminations, though it has not handcuffed or prevented them from doing so.

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Unfortunately, goose roundups and killings still continue to this day in New York City -- four years after the Prospect Park goose carnage.

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But, what about Prospect Park itself?  What is happening in the park today in the wake of one of the more notorious wildlife massacres ever reported?

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Unfortunately, it seems not much has changed in PP since all of its resident geese were slain and even most of its ducks sent packing in a maelstrom of terror and panic on that fateful July 8th of 2010.

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For example, one Facebook page devoted to geese described Prospect Park as "EMPTY" of all but "4 ducks and one swan" on the entire lake during a recent visit. The post laments, "So congratulations for making a mess of a beautiful oasis in the middle of Brooklyn."

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Other reports out of Prospect Park over the past month indicate no (or possibly, two adult geese), one orphaned gosling currently living with two flightless, domestic ducks (likely dumped in PP), very few mallards and two swan families.

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Despite the depressive number of water birds on the Prospect Park lake, Goosebusters (a goose harassment and egg addling company) has apparently been patrolling and harassing geese and other waterfowl throughout the year up to and including the time geese are normally molting.  

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The methods may be different now, but the results are the same -- virtually emptying Prospect Park (and many other city parks) of all or most geese and apparently even most of their duck populations.

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I personally recall, for example, visiting Prospect Park about a week before the goose massacre of 2010.  The lake was alive with a cacophony of not only geese, but hundreds of mallards, shovelers and many other water birds.

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Several weeks later, when attending the vigil held for the slain geese at Prospect Park, there was barely a bird on the water with the exception of a few swans.  Virtually, all the mallards were, like the geese, gone, causing some people to question if USDA WS had also rounded up and killed mallards in addition to the geese?  (WS claims they did not.)

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Four years later, it is virtually the same.  A lake filled with duck weed, but few if any ducks and no geese to consume it.

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But, tragedy at Prospect Park does not end with the amelioration of virtually all its water birds.

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This past weekend, a two-year-old little girl wandered into the seemingly lifeless lake and lost her own life by drowning.

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http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/body-missing-2-year-old-girl-found-prospect-park-lake-article-1.1856190#bmb=1

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Some speculate that perhaps the presence of so much (uneaten) duck weed on the water caused the child to mistake water for land.  Others charge that the family (apparently distracted by cooking on the BBQ) wasn't paying enough attention to the two children wandering off.  (The young boy was thankfully found later alive.)

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But, I personally believe that had the lake been alive with the presence of many geese and ducks (as it was in 2010 just prior to the USDA WS invasion), such would have attracted scores of families and thus a small girl wandering into the water would have been easily spotted and saved.

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Apparently, bird-empty watercourses don't attract the same kind of human enticement and fascination as ones with actual life on them.  And BBQ's might attract too much of the wrong attention as marked by careless distraction.   

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Prospect Park, in essence turns out to be, not just a graveyard for geese but tragically, humans as well.

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Exactly four years following the disgraceful goose gassings at Prospect Park and virtually nothing has changed in this setting that seems to deem itself more akin to Coney Island than a place of tranquility and nature.  One wonders when Prospect Park will bring out the freaks and horror houses?

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Or, perhaps they are already there.

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Ghosts and geese of future past, Prospect Park will forever live in infamy and tragedy, its now mostly bird-empty waters marked also by mournful death of a small child lost in the same dark and deadly brine.  -- PCA

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Strange Days and Hands Over Ears

One of 26 safe geese at Reservoir in Central Park.

"Citibike" sinking in water at Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park. Someone had to hurl bike over 5 foot iron fencing.

Geese, ducks and pigeons at Boat lake in Central Park. All one big happy family.

One of four precious goslings currently in Centrall Park.

Mallard drake at Harlem Meer in Central Park -- one of less than a dozen ducks currently there.

Harlem Meer, presently covered in duck weed, but few ducks.

It's been a strange and eventful few weeks.   Most peculiar, USDA Wildlife Services, Public Affairs Specialist, Carol Bannerman's cryptic note and photos to (27) GooseWatch NYC.   (See prior blog entry.)

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At least one of the photos appears posed.  (Three USDA agents "gently" lowering a goose to a crate like fine china at Gateway National Park.)  It's bewildering to wonder of Bannerman's point in sending the two roundup photos to GooseWatch?   Isn't the natural follow-up question, "Where are the rest of the photos?"

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Ms. Bannerman further warns there is possibility of another goose roundup, but declines to name location and says the decision is "pending."

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One can only guess at the motivations for saying this.  Wouldn't the natural follow-up question be, "Which location?"

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One supposes that the Public Affairs Specialist (as representative of USDA WS), was attempting some kind of transparency.  But, then there are natural follow-up questions and if WS refuses to answer those questions, they are back in the same withholding and stonewalling box.  None of it makes much sense.

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Recently, there have been some witness reports of geese flying during this otherwise molting (flightess) period.   However, that is not what is being observed at Central Park where all 38 geese are molting and completely flightless. It would be hard to imagine any of the geese flying for at least two to three weeks.

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A few other interesting observations in CP recently:

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Incredible as it sounds, someone actually tossed a Citibike over the fencing at Jackie O Reservoir! I photographed it the other day below the water.  It  blows the mind to think someone actually did that. It might help to explain however, why Citibikes is experiencing financial woes if some of the riders are dumping bikes in city park watercourses. 

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More significantly, it forces question once again of why geese are constantly accused of "making a mess" when humans routinely discard all kinds of trash in city parks, including, bottles, bags, toys, balls, fishing lines and even Citibikes.  

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Both Turtle Pond and Harlem Meer at Central Park are presently covered in duck weed, but there are no ducks at TP and less than a dozen at Harlem Meer.  Both locations contain no geese.

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Most of the mallards at CP are hanging with the 26 geese at Reservoir.  I am wondering if particularly aggressive goose harassment this year at most of the park's watercourses has had scary and negative impact on the mallards? Very weird to see Harlem Meer practically devoid of all water birds this time of year.  Usually there are tons of ducks, particularly with duck weed on water -- a major food source.

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As noted, we have four goslings this summer at CP.  Two (only a week old) at the Boat Lake and two (a month old) at Reservoir.  This is a miracle considering aggressive egg addling program, but good to see.

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Also good to see is that we have the same number of resident geese at CP as last year and previous year. Am relieved that many of the geese harassed from other CP lakes and ponds, apparently flew into the Reservoir.  At least there, they are safe from dogs, fishermen and even harassment when it occurs.

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Yesterday, at the Reservoir, I encountered a middle-aged jogger who stopped her run to admire the geese on the water. The woman and I got into a pleasant conversation regarding the birds and wildlife of Central Park.  However, when informing her of government goose roundups and slaughters occurring elsewhere in the city, the woman became very distressed. She suddenly lowered head and put her hands over her ears.  "Oh, please, don't tell me that!" she cried. "I can't bear to hear. It's too painful!"

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Realizing my error in trying to be informative, I quickly backtracked and told the woman that at least the geese were safe at the Reservoir in Central Park. "No harm will come to them here," I assuringly added.  (I did not tell her about harassment measures at CP. The woman was already too upset when hearing about WS goose roundups and culls.)

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Later, when reflecting back on this encounter, it occurred that the only way for WS to continue their heinous wildlife slaughters throughout our land is for most good people (like the woman) to try and block the horror out -- literally with hands over ears.

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Here in New York City, we don't have a whole lot to be grateful for this summer, but there are a few small victories.  I am personally hoping that WS gets out of town before conducting any more goose massacre.  

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Certainly, WS is doing some strange things this summer as evidenced by the swift and defensive reply to Monte Merrick's online petition (which in a couple of weeks has garnered more than 70,000 signatures USDA Wildlife Services responds directly to BAX co-director over Change.org pe) as well as the emailing to me of a note I was probably not intended to see and the very strange email to GooseWatch.

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These are indeed strange days (to quote a Doors song) characterized particularly yesterday by a woman covering her ears when informed of distressing realities.

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Hopefully, there comes time when more people are willing to remove blinders and finally say to government sponsored wildlife slaughters, "Enough! Not in our name and not with our tax dollars!"  -- PCA

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"Distorting Reality" -- USDA Wildlife Services Responds to Critics

In a stunning and clever PR move, USDA Wildlife Services, Public Affairs Specialist, Carol Bannerman, shares photos and scant information pertaining to some of this year's WS goose roundups with GooseWatch.

One can almost picture, USDA Wildlife Services' Public Affairs Specialist, Carol Bannerman, dutifully pouring over dozens of digital images of a recent APHIS roundup of Canada geese from Gateway National Park:

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Objective of the search was apparently to find the two most "gentle" appearing photos to send to  (27) GooseWatch NYC.

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https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=660110727400853&set=a.202473443164586.50778.175344192544178&type=1&theater

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In what is undoubtedly a very smart PP move to get out in front of any photos GW volunteers might capture, as well as give appearance of "transparency," Ms. Bannerman shares information that USDA WS has already conducted two roundups of geese from city parks (as well as Gateway National Park) and indicates they are contemplating more.

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She also warns that the photos may not be used "to distort the reality of the image they portray."

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The last line of Ms. Bannerman's email is particularly peculiar.  

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When have we, after all, ever posted photos of USDA WS goose roundups and portrayed them to be anything other than what they were?  (Preludes to death.)

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It is not ultimately the photos of goose roundups that are symbiotic with cruelty and massacre.  Geese are typically captured for example, for banding and sometimes, "relocation."  -- Acts that in and of themselves are not egregious or tantamount to cruelty (though the geese are obviously stressed and frightened).  

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It is what happens to the geese AFTER they are rounded up in New York City that is crux of the issue of contention.

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Duly noted is that Ms. Bannerman is not sharing photos of slaughterhouses and/or gas chambers to which the geese are ultimately sent (usually crammed 4 and 5 geese to a small crate and trucked long distances).

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Those after all, might not appear so "gentle."

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But, it is that which is at heart of both, the true lack of transparency and the malice.

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Though more than 5,000 geese have been captured and sent to death in New York City over the past four years, we still do not know how or precisely when or where the geese die.

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Unless and until USDA WS is willing to furnish documented photos and videos of how, when and where the geese are killed, then they have no business (or proof) to refer to these massacres as simple "removal" (does not imply death) or worse, "euthanasia" (literally, "good death" conducted for reasons of mercy and to end terminal suffering).

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Someone should inform Ms. Bannerman that good PR (no matter how smart) does not necessarily reality make.

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As long as APHIS refuses to come clean on the hows, whys, whens and wheres of their endless goose carnages, then their motivation for secrecy is clear.

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To quote Dr. Phil McGraw:  "Those who have nothing to hide, hide nothing."

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USDA WS and Public Affairs Specialist, Ms. Bannerman have much in fact, to hide, including how many photos actually looked through to find two that appeared almost kind.

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But, there was nothing either "kind or gentle" in the manner the geese were transported to their deaths or how they actually died.

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It seems in the end, it is Ms. Bannerman and her agency of extermination services that is guilty of "distorting reality."  

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True reality is, that we don't have to. -- PCA

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USDA Wildlife Services -- Governmental Agency or Private Extermination Company?

Latest wildlife carnage by USDA Wildlife Services: 60 Canada geese and their goslings captured and slaughtered from Candlewick Lake, Illinois. Question:  Why would a community choose death for their wildlife over non-lethal resolution of conflict offered by the Humane Society of the United States?

In still one more startling and illuminating example of USDA Wildlife Services acting more like a for-profit,  private extermination company than a governmental agency, comes this news out of Poplar Grove, Illinois:

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http://www.wisconsingazette.com/trending-news/homeowners-group-has-60-canada-geese-slaughtered.html

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Despite being offered assistance from The Humane Society of the United States to humanely manage its goose population, the homeowner's association of Candlewick Lake, apparently elected instead to enter into contract with WS to have all its 60 geese and goslings rounded up and exterminated. (Something that on the face of it, makes little sense.)

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What this particular wildlife massacre has to do with helping to insure "airline safety" or protection of "agriculture" is anyone's guess.

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Rather, what the scant evidence suggests, is that USDA Wildlife Services derives a good deal of its revenue from entering into wildlife killing contracts with private entities and associations for purposes of human convenience and seeming profit.

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Such is not truly the role of a federal governmental agency. -- Especially when other private or non-profit agency has otherwise offered assistance to the affected community.

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It is not clear from the above article (which is mainly a press release from HSUS) if the residents of Candlewick Lake were fully informed and knowledgeable that the 60 geese and their babies would be captured and killed by USDA and if that is in fact, what they wanted. 

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Considering how WS has misled other communities into believing captured animals would be "humanely relocated," it is possible the Home Association was likewise deceived. 

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It seems most communities, if having a choice between non-lethal solution to wildlife conflicts (as proposed by HSUS) and lethal ones (performed by WS) would choose non-lethal first.

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There is obviously much that is not known about this particular goose massacre conducted by WS and so far, only one media outlet has reported it at all (and that based on the HSUS very brief press release).

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Apparently neither USDA WS or the Home Association issued their own press releases or Community Notifications and no reporter has bothered to (so far) investigate.

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But, for sure if goslings were present in the roundup (as reported) then it is highly unlikely that any established, non-lethal measures for goose control were tried first and rather the first solution as put forth and enacted by USDA WS was extermination. 

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This, once again is contrary to the common WS claims of trying to solve wildlife conflicts through "non-lethal means" before resorting to lethal ones.  Rather their motto seems to be, "Kill first and answer questions later."

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It is hoped that further investigation into this incident occurs that might bring greater enlightenment to exactly why these 60 geese and goslings died. (Did the Home Association actually want the geese dead?  Were residents of the community informed of the lethal plan and did they have any say?   Were any non-lethal measures attempted first?)

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Unfortunately, if anything like New York City, the deaths of these 60 geese and their goslings from Candlewick Lake will go uninvestigated, unreported and ultimately, unknown to most of the members of the community.

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Score another secrecy and kill victory for Wildlife (Extermination) Services. -- PCA

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Concrete Wall of Silence Surrounding NYC Goose Kills

Sitting Goose

The bright orange crates are stacked up, equipment in place and the trucks ready to go.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/34224145@N04/sets/72157645394188656/

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But, we don't know which parks, golf courses or "refuges" USDA Wildlife (Extermination) Services are heading to next or when.

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Unlike recently past years, there has been a complete and concrete wall of secrecy and silence surrounding this year's goose kills in New York City.

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No DEC press release announcing the culls.  No New York Times piece by Andy Newman basically parroting a USDA press release. No grandstanding by Senator Gillibrand (D) NY, calling for an all out slaughter of the geese at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. No mention anywhere of a new goose killing contract being signed with the city, though from all indications, one has been.

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No, it has all been silent.  Dead silence, literally.  

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Reports from witnesses and (27) GooseWatch NYC  suggest WS goose kills have already occurred at Inwood Hills Park and Van Courtlandt Park.  But, there are no photos, videos or media reports to back up the claims -- just missing (and probably very dead) geese.

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For sure, we know the molting (flightless) geese didn't suddenly up and leave these locations.  Moreover, Inwood Hills Park and Van Courtlandt Park have been sites of previous goose slaughters.   WS apparently likes to return to the scenes of past slime. --easy pickings for them, one supposes.

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One seems to recall something called, "Community Notification."

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Community Notification (like the name implies), simply means that communities are given sufficient notice regarding proposed wildlife culls in their area and also time to respond via a "public comment period."  (Such recently occurred in NY state when the DEC proposed eradicating all the wild mute swans in the state. The media widely reported and the public reacted very poorly to the plan. It was subsequently voted down in the state legislature.)

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But, nothing has been reported on the goose kills this year in NYC either by government, politicians, media or targeted and cooperating parks.

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Presumably, should people show up in parks and question suddenly missing geese, they will be told the flightless geese "flew away."

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Such is exactly what happened at Prospect Park four years ago after 362 geese and goslings were captured by USDA WS in the wee hours of the morning of July 8th and sent for gassing.

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Questioning park goers were initially told by park staffers that the geese and their babies "flew to a nearby cemetery." (Perhaps that wasn't so far fetched as the gassed geese ended up in a land fill.)

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The plan of secrecy and lies however fell apart when two knowledgeable park goers (who knew goslings and molting geese couldn't fly ) contacted the New York Times and the rest, as they say, is history.   

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At that time, USDA WS maintained it was Prospect Park's duty to do "Community Notification."  But, it was never done.  (There is usually some loophole in government documents, contracts and rules that allows for widdling out of usual and standard protocols.)

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Nor apparently since that time have other targeted and cooperating parks done Community Notifications of impending WS goose slaughters on their properties.

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As noted previously, we learn of the goose slaughters months after the fact in APHIS Goose Removal Reports.

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By that time, even the media isn't interested in reading or reporting.

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This long history of stonewalling, deception, silence and in extreme cases, outright lying is unbefitting for governmental agencies boasting of their "full transparency."

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There is nothing at all transparent about conducting wildlife slaughters in public parks and other properties (usually in the wee hours of the morning) and then taking pains to insure the public knows nothing about them until months later. -- The same public that pays for these wildlife massacres with its tax dollars.  

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The different governmental agencies can "pass the buck" in terms of whose responsibility it is to actually do Community Notification, but the bottom line seems to be that the term itself has simply become one more euphemism (like "euthanasia") designed to make the public "feel good" that something is being done that is not or that something which is truly dirty and corrupt is somehow magically sanitized. -- PCA

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Raining On Kill Parade of USDA Wildlife (Extermination) Services

 

Safe for this year: Our goose family in Central Park.

Close to 100 people turned out on streets of NYC last week to protest USDA WS goose slaughters currently occurring in our great city.

"USDA WS get out of town!"

Got that right. Here in NYC, we love our geese and want to preserve them for our grand kids to enjoy, as we have.

Wonderful news for the geese of Central Park:

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They are apparently not a target for roundups and slaughters conducted by USDA WS in New York City this time of year.  

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This news comes straight from a high official at USDA WS in response to a letter sent to the agency questioning and critiquing many of APHIS' actions and claims. Though the intention was obviously not to assure or pacify, it ironically does so.   Said the writer:

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"Just to let Mr. Shear and Mr. Clay know, thus writer has had an obsession with WS work since 2009 due to her concern for Central Park geese. No work has been planned or conducted there, but the correspondent is much like the writer from Vancouver."

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Quite frankly, I don't mind being portrayed as some "obsessive" nut case as long as getting assurances that our geese at CP are safe.  The odd thing was nothing in the rather lengthy, detailed letter sent to USDA WS officials even mentioned Central Park.

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Rather, the letter was critical of APHIS's tendencies to deflect, obfuscate, mislead and deceive the general public and community/public officials into believing things that are untrue.

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For example, the repeated use of euphemisms like "euthanasia" and "removal" to characterize  gassings or slaughters of geese and promises of "relocation" of animals when the actual plan is to kill or set them up as targets in a hunting preserve.

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The other thing off-putting in WS's dismissive response is that it implies I am the only one distressed about goose and other wildlife killings both, in New York City and elsewhere around the country.

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That is hardly true as witnessed by more than 61,000 people recently signing on to a Internet petition highly critical of Wildlife Services's kill programs: https://www.change.org/petitions/wildlife-services-stop-slaughtering-millions-of-wild-animals# as well as close to a hundred participants who turned out last week to specifically protest USDA's goose slaughters in New York City.  (see photos).

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WS may like to believe that it is only one or two "obsessive" wack jobs upset about its wanton wildlife killing programs, but the facts would highly indicate otherwise.

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APHIS officials can continue to languish in their ivory towers telling themselves that all those who dare to question or criticize their lethal actions against wildlife are ignorant and/or obsessive fools who, after protesting will "go home and turn on football."

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But, they should consider it is those same ignorant and obsessive fools paying their salaries through tax dollars.

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As it is not nice to fool with mother nature, it is also unwise to belittle and dismiss those citizens actually putting the bread and butter on your table and paying for your BMW's  -- PCA

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Hard Wildlife Lessons for People of Oakland, Maine

Who might want to harm a peaceful, defenseless creature on the water? Those for whom destruction is an easy paycheck.

As recently reported in this blog, there was a major story breaking out of Oakland, Maine when USDA Wildlife Services lied to officials and community and gassed 18 geese (including goslings) instead of "relocating" them, as promised.

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The perennial poop has hit the fan in Oakland as outraged officials and community members are complaining to the press of being "misled" by USDA and the contract is revealed.

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http://www.pressherald.com/2014/06/27/oakland-officials-we-were-misled-about-goose-flocks-fate/

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There can be little question that WS likely planned to kill these geese all along, but felt they could deceive, mislead and get away with it.

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WS claims they sought "relocation" after rounding up the geese, but that makes no sense for an agency that generally plans well every move and detail right down to how many crates to bring and what slaughtering or gassing facility to send the geese. (On latter note, WS obviously had no trouble finding a gassing facility 100 miles away from roundup location to transport the geese.)

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Oakland, Maine now (and sadly) falls into a group of parks, golf courses and college campuses around the country that have learned the hard way, not to trust the words and promises of APHIS Wildlife Services.

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Despite culling, geese return to Chattanooga State | Times Free Press

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(109) Project Save Davis Coyotes 

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Hopefully in the future, the people of Oakland (as elsewhere) will learn the importance of monitoring their own parks and seeking and implementing, responsible, non-lethal solutions to any conflicts with wildlife.   -- PCA

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