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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Greta Hanging Tough in Hostile Environment

There has been very little good news regarding NYC park wildlife over the past year. Dead raccoons, dead goslings, dwindling food sources and dwindling wildlife all around.

Add to that, the campaign to criminalize all people who dare give a peanut to a squirrel or piece of bread to a duck.

The wildlife, "should go to Long Island to find food sources" as one Audubon representative and ban supporter recently put it.

 Nevertheless, there is some good news.

Greta did not abandon or lose her eggs, after all.  She is still on her nest.

The two geese photographed standing on rocks at the Jackie Onassis Reservoir earlier in the week (and mistaken for Hansel and Greta) are, in fact, new arrivals.

It's unusual for new geese to enter into territories of established  nesting pairs and thus, such was not anticipated.  One suspects the new geese may have been harassed from some other location by Geese Police or could be adult kids of Hansel and Greta from a few years ago. In either case, I am surprised Hansel has not chased the pair out.

There are a few plants and blades of grass struggling to grow through the barren landscape at the Reservoir now.  But not enough to sustain two goslings, let alone a potential dozen. (Three nesting pairs in total.)

Matters are still grim, but it is at least good news that Greta and Hansel are OK. It would have been extremely ominous had Greta actually abandoned her eggs. Geese don't walk away from eggs unless something is seriously wrong -- which is why I was so worried for her.

In other parts of Central Park, wildlife matters continue on a downward spiral.

My friend, Liliana went to the row boat Lake today, hoping to feed her two special geese (Man and Lady) and two mallards that were there last week. But none of the birds were present. (This also suggests that Geese Police might be operating in Central Park again -- despite very few geese being there.)

Granted, Liliana is not able to walk around the entire lake. But she gets a pretty good view from the Ladies Pavilian. She saw no ducks or geese at all on the entire north side of lake.

That is shocking news as usually there is a lively group of mallards hanging around the Pavilion this time of year.

Also, only two squirrels observed and very few smaller birds.

Maybe the wildlife really is venturing over the bridges to Long Island, after all?

NYC Parks are clearly unwelcoming environments.  Instead of red carpets, they roll out Geese Police vans, demolition squads, No Feeding signs and pesticides.

Hang tough, Greta, hang tough.

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Letter to a NYC Parks Wildlife Official

This morning I wrote a high official in the Wildlife division of NYC Parks regarding the proposed Wildlife Feeding Ban. I share the letter here as both, a matter of record to this blog, as well as refute of arguments in support of the feckless ban.

It is vital to keep the pressure on NYC officials and the Mayor if we are serious about protecting what little remains of precious NYC Parks birds and squirrels.

The argument (put forth by an Audubon representative) that "The animals can go to Long Island" when essentially starved out of NYC parks is neither acceptable nor realistic. Squirrels and baby birds cannot fly or cross bridges.

Dear Mr.XXXXX

It was suggested by a colleague that I write to you regarding the proposed Wildlife Feeding Ban in NYC Parks.

I moved to upstate N.Y. last year. But before doing so, I visited Central Park everyday for nearly a decade and documented thousands of hours of wildlife observations in a blog.

One of the reasons for leaving NYC was the often apathetic, dismissive and even cruel, callous attitudes towards NYC parks wildlife.

I speak of the deliberate gassings and slaughter of more than 6,000 resident Canada geese, in addition to nearly constant harassment and destruction of their nests and eggs. 

The last Swan was harassed out of Central Park in the spring of 2014.

I understand that nearly all the raccoons in Central Park died last year and squirrel numbers are alarmingly low compared to recent past years.  Friends report lower bird numbers in general.

I am going to first, summarize by points, why Feeding Ban Proposal must be rejected, both for the sake of wildlife protection and human welfare. (Later, in this letter, I will refute claims of those supporting ban.)

1-- Destruction of Wildlife Habitat and Natural Food Sources.

Others have pointed to replacement of fruit, nut and seed-bearing trees in parks with ornamental flora that does not sustain wildlife. 

One example of this is destruction last year, of all vegetation that surrounds the Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park.  Foliage and grass previously there were important food sources for growing goslings, migratory and molting birds and other wildlife.  Last summer 8 of 9 goslings perished at the Reservoir, all around the age of four weeks. If not the main cause for demise of goslings, lack of food sources had to be contributing factor, leaving them weak and unable to avoid predation.
(Baby birds are unable to fly out until three months of age, to forage food elsewhere. Molting birds in summer are also unable to fly out to find food.)

2-- Climate Change and Lethal Impacts of Severe Winters on Park Wildlife.

The winters of 2014 and 2015 were particularly severe and abnormal all along the North East, including, NYC.  Thousands of waterfowl starved to death on iced-over lakes and ponds. The town of Southhampton in Long Island purchased large bags of cracked corn in effort to save dying ducks on their lakes.
Workers in Central Park told me of finding dead ducks around a frozen Harlem Meer.

Myself and a few others took to feeding starving MIGRATORY ducks, geese and coots on the then iced-over Jackie Onassis Reservoir twice a day. Tourists and even New Yorkers thought we were employees of the park!

"It's nice that the park feeds them!" we were told dozens of times.

Despite our efforts, many birds died anyway.
Imagine what this scene would be like were a feeding ban to pass?

Tourists would be viewing icy duck and goose graveyards.

The Jackie Onassis Reservoir is an important resting stop for thousands of migratory birds every year, as well as an actual wintering location for hundreds of migratory geese, ducks and coots.

Callously allowing migratory waterfowl to starve to death on iced-over watercourses should not be option for NYC parks -- especially at a location Park Rangers claim they "have no access to" for rescues.

Migratory birds, by federal law, are supposed to be protected!

3 --Negative Impacts on the Elderly, Disabled and Children/Families

It is mostly the elderly, disabled and young children who feed birds and squirrels in parks.  These are people who cannot run marathons, take "tours and nature hikes," or stand on long lines for concerts, shows and movies.

I have a friend, Liliana, who is a stage four cancer victim and uses  a walker to get around.  She likes to sit down and feed ducks and geese in Central Park. (She was also one of the people who helped me save starving birds on icy Reservoir in 2015.)

Liliana had a letter published in the NY Daily News last month, opposing feeding ban.

She received a call two weeks ago from Christina Kim of the Mayor's office. Ms. Kim told Liliana that instead of feeding birds, she should "Go on a nature hike with birders" or "Volunteer at the WBF."

Such is truly insult to a disabled, elderly cancer victim.
Is this what the Mayor means by "Education?" - - Insulting seniors?

In addition to disrespect and insult to the infirm and elderly for whom feeding birds is often their only joy in life, a feeding ban would also be harmful to many city children whose only connection to animals and nature are the ducks in the park. One young mother told me her little girl "looked forward all week" to coming to Harlem Meer on weekends to feed the ducks. (They were not allowed pets in their apartment and could not afford trips to the country.)  Are these the people parks seek to criminalize and punish?

Children learning sharing and compassion early in life are more likely to grow up to be generous, caring adults.  By contrast, children hurling sticks and rocks at park wildlife are more likely to later become troubled teens and adults. Those are facts.

Arguments of Ban Supporters and Why They Need to be Rejected.

1-- "Bird and Squirrel Feeders are Responsible for Trash and Rats in Parks. "

This is a shameful example of scapegoating innocent people for failures of parks to do proper clean-up of debris. Bird feeders are not responsible for all the balls, balloons, bottles, diapers, fishing lines, old shoes and other garbage dumped in parks and lakes. Virtually ALL foods put out by birders are quickly consumed by the intended wildlife. Bread especially is devoured with barely a crumb left.
Moreover, to imply that there are hoards of people feeding wildlife and trashing parks is the worst of exaggeration and outright lie.
Less than 1% of people who go to parks feed wildlife.

2-- "Feeding Bread or Other Human Food Harms Wildlife and Causes Angel Wing."

Angel Wing occurs most frequently in domestic ducks and geese raised for meat or eggs. These birds are NOT fed bread or other human foods. Studies show the deformity is most often caused by genetic factors, high density crowding, lack of exercise and movement, stress, heat and too much protein in diet. (Bread is low in protein.)

In terms of Park wildlife, mallards are most frequently fed bread, and they rarely, if ever get Angel Wing. 

This argument (though spread widely over the Internet) is completely bogus and refuted by scientific studies, evidence and observations. Though Angel Wing does occur sometimes in wild Canada geese, this is most likely due to lack of variable gene pool, exposure to chemicals in grass, stress, genetics or unknown factors. 

Most research papers say, "more studies need to be done."

This past winter, swans in the UK started dying after a successful public "No Bread" campaign. Officials then requested people start feeding bread again. Better bread than starvation. It does no harm.

The fact is, people have been feeding bread to ducks, geese and swans for hundreds of years without ill effect.


3-- "Feeding Causes Overpopulation and Birds Not to Migrate"

Migratory patterns are established over thousands of years and are NOT impacted at all by human feeding!   Despite feeding, I was able to predict within days when migratory ducks and geese would leave Central Park, (mid-March), as well as when goose parents and their goslings would depart.  (When babies are 11-weeks-old.)

This argument bears no merit whatsoever.

Mr. XXXX, I submit that instead of seeking ways to shock the rest of the country with this absurd, reckless and cruel feeding ban, you should better equip Park Rangers with boats, nets and training for water bird rescues, along with access to the Jackie Onassis Reservoir for rescue of migratory birds. People should NOT have to helplessly watch innocent birds die on the water or ice in a world famous location.

I also submit that you should do a better job of picking up discarded fishing lines in parks that DO injure and harm wildlife, as well as  addressing harm and injury done to park goers from speeding bikes and vicious crimes.

Senior citizens and children feedIng birds are the very LEAST of NYC Park problems.

Mayor deBlasio, Park Officials and other ban supporters should be utterly ashamed of themselves on this.

I thank God I moved out of NYC to a city that welcomes and cares for its park wildlife, as well as welcomes wildlife feeders. I never thought that when leaving NYC a year ago, I would still be fighting for its park wildlife 14 months later.

Sincerely.....


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Concern for Greta

I am worried about Greta.

Nothing about this spring has been "normal" for she and her mate, Hansel, who returned to the Jackie Onassis Reservoir last month in order to once again nest.

It seemed at the time, a "hopeful" sign considering Hansel and Greta lost all five of their goslings last year when the babies were only a month old. (One suspects malnutrition being at least, a contributory, if not the main cause to the demise of the goslings, as all the grass and foliage necessary to sustain goslings had been removed from the landscape surrounding the Reservoir.)

But once again, the mated goose pair returned to a barren landscaped Reservoir with not so much as a blade of grass anywhere among the rocks at the East Side of Reservoir -- Greta's usual nesting spot.

The other Reservoir nesting pair, John and Mary did not return to the Reservoir until a couple of weeks ago, just prior to Mary actually nesting.  Previous to that, the pair was observed grazing on the grass at Harlem Meer.

It is necessary for Canada goose hens to "calorie-load" prior to nesting as they barely eat anything for the month that they incubate their eggs.

But Hansel and Greta stayed mostly at the barren Reservoir where building "fat reserves" wasn't in the cards. Perhaps Greta anticipated the foliage blooming again with with the arrival of spring, but it wasn't to be. Apparently, the roots have been destroyed.

Both pairs nested much later than "normal" which is usually the last days of March or first days in April.  John and Mary began nesting two weeks ago and Hansel and Greta only last week.

I speculated that it took them longer this year to build up the calorie requirements necessary for rigors of nesting.

But did Greta actually build up those necessary requirements at the grass and plant-empty Reservoir?

When photographed more than a week ago, Greta had hatched one egg.

But something about the photo was depressing. No nesting materials and just rock surrounding her. In fact, all the recent photos of Hansel and Greta exuded an air of forlorness, search and loss.

But maybe that was just my imagination? My "feelings?"

 Laura, who usually shares photos and updates with me is not able to get to the Reservoir everyday due to work obligations. But she does check Instagram photos.

Two days ago, she found a "sunset" photo on Instagram showing, both Hansel and Greta standing on empty East Side Reservoir rocks with no nest or eggs in sight.

Laura thought that perhaps a recent storm had washed away Greta's eggs, but I don't think so.  Mary's eggs were intact as of Saturday.

Yesterday, Laura requested a friend to check on Hansel and Greta at the Reservoir, but the geese were gone from the nest site. The friend did not walk around the entire Reservoir.

It's possible that the two geese are somewhere else on the Reservoir. Or it's possible they finally gave up on the hostile environment and flew out.

But I can't help having a "bad feeling" about it.

It all seems too Deja-vu....

 Today, I checked back on an old blog post from five years ago, nearly to the day (April 30, 2014):

https://talesamptailsofnewyork.blogspot.com/2014/04/they-only-abandon-their-eggs-when-dying.html

Camille and Brad had survived a brutal NYC winter in 2014 that saw the city receive more than 60 inches of snow. (Normal for NYC is 25 inches of snow a year.). I recall a park worker telling me he had found a number of dead ducks at a frozen Harlem Meer that winter.

But apparently, Camille did not have the calorie and fat reserves to survive the stresses of nesting.  She died a week after laying six eggs.  A little more than a week following her misfortune, another nesting goose perished at the Reservoir on May 10 shortly after laying eggs. (Also detailed in blog.)

And so, am I just being paranoid in worrying over Greta now?
Or is such worry based upon past experience?

I am desperately hoping to be wrong and Laura right. Maybe a storm washed away Greta's eggs.  Maybe she and her mate, Hansel are perfectly fine and just took off after suffering still, another loss.

But the feelings are uneasy, the photos haunting and past blog posts foreboding.

And in light of everything else coming out from NYC parks these days, it is nearly impossible to be optimistic.

I can only hope Greta and her devoted mate are OK, and yet "hope" seems such anemic and powerless word.

           
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Dead Birds Are Facts; Beliefs and Feelings Are Not

In a recent NY1 interview, NYC Mayor deBlasio stated that he and NYC Parks "believe" there are adequate food resources for the wildlife in city parks.

In a phone conversation yesterday with a staffer at the Parks Commissioner's office, I was told it's the "feeling" of park officials that birds and squirrels have sufficient food sources.

Another caller to her Councilman yesterday, was told feeders will "probably" not be fined.

Beliefs, feelings and "probably" are not facts. It seems officials use these meaningless, ambiguous terms when lacking actual evidence to back up their claims.

However, it is FACT that migratory geese and ducks have starved to death on iced-over watercourses in city parks during rough winters.

It is FACT that man-made parks are designed for human activities to the detriment of natural food sources for wildlife.

It is FACT that all the foliage (a major food source for migratory geese and developing goslings) was destroyed and removed at the Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park last year, seemingly causing 8 of 9 goslings to perish there.

Other "beliefs" that don't stand up to scrutiny are the claims that bread-feeding to birds causes "Angel Wing" in geese and that feeding squirrels causes them to "attack people."

 Few studies have actually been conducted to prove exactly what causes Angel Wing in geese. What little information exists suggest genetic factors more than anything else -- with some studies suggesting a high protein diet contributing to condition. (Bread is not high in protein.)

But one thing for sure, were bread a major cause of Angel Wing, as claimed, it should be seen more frequently in mallards (who are fed more bread than geese), and in fact, rarely is.
Moreover, Angel Wing is usually evident in very young goslings only a few weeks old. Unless eating ONLY bread, it is highly unlikely that diet alone would cause that kind of damaging "birth defect" in so short a time.

Nevertheless, the feeding ban is not about what to feed wildlife. It's about banning ALL feeding -- including, so-called, "healthy foods."

 It behooves the imagination to understand why some birders and rescuers support the harmful ban despite it not making ANY concessions for their requested "exceptions."

 Would one buy a house or rent an apartment without a written agreement spelling out terms and conditions? Would Congress Members "support" bills making no concessions to their requests and demands? One thinks not.

We are truly down to the wire now.  The proposal now sits on the desks of Park Commissioners, just waiting to be signed.

Please call Commissioner, Mitchell Silver today at (212) 360-1305 to express opposition to ban and Deputy Commissioner, Liam Kavanagh at (212) 360-1307.

And don't buy into their beliefs, feelings and probablys.

 "Just the facts" as Sergeant Friday used to say.

Dead Birds are facts. Beliefs and feelings are not.

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"Anybody But Me" -- The Folly of Denial and Elitism

This past Friday's edition of the New York Times finally covered the proposed wildlife feeding ban in NYC parks. -- But it may be too little too late.

( "It's Eastertime and the Duck Rescuers are Ready" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/19/nyregion/ducks-city-parks-.html )

This important article illustrates just some of the likely negative consequences of the reckless ban that the NYC Parks Department and Mayor seek to impose on New Yorkers and parks' vulnerable wildlife.

Abandoned domestic ducks are, of course, not wildlife.
These ducks cannot fly or "forage" like wild ducks and their nutritional needs are greater than those of wild waterfowl. Should the feeding ban pass, these birds are essentially doomed as virtually all depend upon human support, especially in winter.

What has been so stunning and disappointing throughout this struggle are the number of rescue people, birders and even some feeders who support the ban.

There seems to be this naive and even elitist belief that the ban will not apply to them.

During the recent hearing and comment testimonies, a number of birders and rescuers said that they supported the ban, but that they themselves should be exempt because they "only feed nutritious foods" or they only used food in order to rescue.

This is like a dog owner arguing in favor of Pooper Scooper laws,
 "But not for my dog." Or one arguing in favor of wind turbines, "But not in my backyard."

 Such arguments are exercises in contradiction and elitism and tend to carry little weight with decision makers. Indeed the proposed rule makes NO EXCEPTIONS.  Not for rescuers, not for birders and not for feeders supporting dumped domestic ducks in parks.

The proposal was never about what to feed or under what circumstances. It is an outright BAN  and it would apply to everyone and under all circumstances. (No allowance even for severe weather.)

That many birders, rescuers and even Animal Rights people failed to support the effort to defeat this cruel and far-reaching proposal speaks to not only, naivete, but certain arrogance. Most of all, it speaks to misunderstanding of the facts.

One has to suspect most ban supporters were not around in city parks when so many ducks, geese and other waterfowl starved to death on icy lakes during the Polar Vortex of 2015. -- A winter when thousands of water birds perished in the North East. 

(It is not pleasant to watch animals starve to death. It is something one never forgets.)

Now, in their zeal to beat down and punish "stupid" people feeding bread or crackers in parks, they condemn many animals to starve from squirrels, to goslings, to domestic ducks and many others as man-made parks are not created to provide food sources for wildlife.  On the contrary, many natural food sources (such as foliage at Jackie Onassis Reservoir) have been deliberately removed or destroyed.

Thus, those rescuers, birders and even feeders who supported ban have argued against their own interests and efforts. ( i.e."self-sabotage.") They will be handed tickets and fines just as anyone else.

It is unlikely that Ms. Zafonte (profiled in article) will continue feeding after paying hefty fines and threatened with jail time.

And that will be very bad news for the three domestic ducks at the 59th St Pond in Central Park that she has been feeding for some time and who are reliant on her.

A pox on all the houses that supported this draconian, reckless and cruel measure that will ultimately harm both, animals in parks as well as the caring humans who tried to help and save them.


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And Then There Were None

Treasure your photographs. One day they may be all you have."

I saw the above quote on a Facebook post yesterday. I imagine it was meant to convey the importance of family and friends.

But it could also apply to park wildlife.

I realize that so many photographs I have are of animals that no longer exist in Central Park.

The last swan (whom I had named, "Hector") was harassed out of Harlem Meer in Central Park in the spring of 2014.  None have been seen in CP since.

At one time, several swan families lived on the Boat Lake in Central Park.  I have photos of my daughter feeding them in early 1990's.

" Treasure your photographs. "

I also have many photographs of Central Park raccoons. Entire families of raccoons from Harlem Meer to the south Pond. I even have a photo of a mama raccoon nursing her juvenile baby from only a few years ago.

Now mama and baby are both dead along with all the other raccoon families of Central Park.

Perhaps this 2017 article from the New York Post helps explain why:

https://nypost.com/2017/09/16/new-york-is-waging-war-against-raccoons/

New York City has in fact, "waged war" against many park animals in recent years. Swans, raccoons and certainly, Canada geese of which six thousand have been killed over the past decade.

But where do all these "wars" lead?  What is the end goal?

Parks entirely devoid of birds and other wildlife?

One of my friends was at the Boat Lake in Central Park yesterday.
She noted "two ducks" and "two geese" on a lake that would normally this time of year contain dozens of waterfowl.
She also noted few birds at all around the Ladies Pavilion in Central Park - a spot normally teaming with all kinds of small birds this time of year. And she also saw only one wary squirrel.

Mayor deBlasio said in a recent interview, that the city is doing "all it can to eradicate rats in city parks." But what else is the city  "eradicating" in the process?

 A Manhattan friend lamented on FB yesterday, all the animals who perished in the Notre Dame cathedral fire in Paris -- and all the animals dying around the world.

But what about the animals vanishing under our noses and being pushed out of New York City parks?  As the saying goes, "Think globally, act locally."

 If everyone did that, it would be a far different world.

It would be a world in which we didn't have to look at old photographs to remember what was, but is no more.


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