What to Expect if Wildlife Feeding is Criminalized in New York City Parks

Climate change has caused all kinds of weather extremes across the globe. Many wildlife species are pressured to adapt; many face actual extinction.

Even in a place like New York City which hasn't yet faced the worst of climate extremes, two harsh winters did result in many park birds perishing due to starvation.

The "Polar Vortex" of 2015 caused thousands of water birds all along the North East to starve to death on iced-over ponds and lakes that remained frozen well into March.  (In effort to save dying ducks, one town in Long Island resorted to purchasing huge bans of cracked corn to feed.)

During the winter of 2014, New York City received more than 60 inches of snow (the average yearly snowfall for NYC is 25 inches).
It was common to see mallards digging through foot-high snow in parks in effort to find food buried beneath.

Noting birds dying on the 90% iced-over Jackie Onassis Reservoir in 2015, I and a few other people took to going twice a day in effort to feed the starving. It was too little too late for some unfortunate ducks, coots and geese, but it did aid in saving the majority.

It is foolhardy and naive to think such harsh and deadly winters won't happen again in New York City.

Will City Parks send workers out to feed the starving?

Or will they say, "Let Them Eat Ice!" and plan for the next "Special Event? "

If the Wildlife Feeding Ban goes into effect, New Yorkers should anticipate seeing far more sights of the starving -- just like the ones in these photos.

Little Old Ladies Fighting Back!

As an older woman, I am dismayed with the way we are depicted in major media, commercials, jokes and by some politicians.

No, I am not tripping and falling with every third step. And no, I am not on a barrage of medications and prescriptions. And no, my brain  hasn't turned to mush and my boobs don't hang to my shoes.

But nor am I running marathons, dancing all night in discos, walking cross country or rolling under the sheets in the senior version of Sex and the City.

In most ways, I am the same woman I was ten or twenty years ago -- though with a few more lines and some wear and tear on the body.

But perhaps the way I am most disenchanted about "age" is the way people like me have been portrayed by the New York City Parks Department and indirectly, the Mayor of NYC.

Yes, I am one of those awful, stupid people (mostly, older women) who enjoys feeding birds in a park.

According to the.leadership of NYC, we are responsible for attracting rats, harming wildlife and even causing birds to stop migrating -- none of which is true.

It is the garbage strewn around parks (especially during special events) that attracts rats. It is the chemicals and pesticides used in parks that harm wildlife (as well as habitat destruction). And migrating birds move according to the calendar and seasons, not according to some person tossing treats.

The fact is, most wildlife is slowly disappearing in NYC parks and that has zero to do with people feeding birds or squirrels. It has everything to do with parks deliberately pushing wildlife out in order to transform parks into major entertainment and sports venues.

The last swan was harassed out of Central Park in 2012.  Raccoons sickened and died in Central Park last year. And Canada geese have been killed and harassed from city parks for the last decade.

But blame the little old ladies feeding birds in parks for all of this mayhem!

Why not?

Little old ladies usually don't fight back.

But in this case, some of them are!

I have a friend, Liliana, who is 75-years-old, dealing with stage four cancer, chemotherapy every three weeks and has to use a walker. But that doesn't stop her from going to Central Park at least once a week to feed ducks and her two special (resident Canada) geese, "Man and Lady" who have lived at the Boat Lake for a number of years.

Liliana has grieved with these two geese when their eggs have been destroyed by "Geese Police." She has rejoiced with them the one time they outwitted park employees and successfully hatched and raised six babies. She has worried for them during tough winters and she laughs and boasts when her "Man" chases other geese from the lake.

But now, Liliana worries that she risks arrest if the proposed "Wildlife Feeding Ban" is passed as is now threatened by city leadership and the Parks Department.

 "How will I get to my chemotherapy treatments if I am in jail?" she jokes - - though there is uneasy concern behind the laugh.

Liliana would not do well at Rikers.

Still, Liliana is not taking any of this lying down. She is indeed getting up!  (Unlike the way commercials portray senior women on floors: "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!" )

She wrote beautiful comment to the cruel proposal, she called 311 to protest and she's even written letters to newspapers!

And no, she is not bailing on her trips to see -- and feed her special Man and Lady.

As Liliana said to me recently, "What does my life mean if I don't have purpose!?"

 Purpose indeed.

And though I too am now in my seventh decade, I have no interest in retiring off to some "Senior Living" paradise, discussing aches, pains and pills or running marathons.

I'd rather go feed some ducks -- or geese!

(Picture: Liliana hand-feeding pigeons in Central Park several years ago.)

Words and Rules Matter -- What Do We Teach Our Children?

One day, several years ago, I was at Harlem Meer in Central Park.

I noticed a young boy, about 9 or 10-years-old, throwing sticks and small rocks at ducks and geese.

 "They would prefer that you toss treats to them." I said, walking up to him and offering a handful of cracked corn and some bits of whole wheat bread.

The boy looked quizzedly at me, but accepted the offer with a shy "Thank you."

 Within a few minutes, the boy's face widened and broke out in exalted smile and giggles as hungry ducks and geese sauntered up to him, happy to receive the treats from his hand.

 "See? Isn't that better than the animals running away when you scare and throw objects at them? They are like us. They like to eat! And they will remember you as their friend."

 " Yes, I understand." the smiling, jubilant boy replied. "They are so happy now! Can I have some more?"

Children have always been fascinated with ducks and geese. And they particularly like to interact with wildlife.

But there are positive and negative ways to interact with wildlife; especially the semi-tame wildlife of city parks as the above example illustrates.

Take away or discourage one way and children will likely use the other.

In recent weeks there has been much scapegoating and false blame for so-called "rat problems" in city parks placed on bird and squirrel feeders. The Parks Department and city now threaten to pass a new rule to criminalize bird feeding and even throw feeders in jail.

Though the "rule" has not officially passed yet, people are already intimidated and scared to give so much as a peanut to a squirrel.

But what impact do such threatening words and tactics have on children?

Children aren't following news stories, but their parents do.

Certainly no mother is going to give to her child peanuts or bread to feed the birds or squirrels. No mother wants to be fined or arrested.

So what do the kids do now when seeing ducks or geese or squirrels  in the park?

My friend, Laura Taylor was at Harlem Meer the other day.
She did not see anyone feeding birds, but she did photograph one young boy throwing sticks at and chasing two Canada geese.

Unfortunately, with all the demonizing of bird feeders lately, Laura did not feel at liberty (as I was) to offer the boy food to toss instead.

We truly have to ask ourselves what kind of society do we want to be and raise our kids in?

One that punishes, shames and criminalizes compassion or one that exaults and celebrates it?

Pictures below tell the story.
Which child looks happier?
Which child is likely to grow up bullying, intimidating or even assaulting others?
Which child is likely to feel empathy and mercy for the needy? Which child is likely to be generous and giving with others?

Words and "rules" matter.
         
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They Tear Down the Plants and Leave the Trash -- Oh, Jackie O!

Oh, Jackie O, look what they've done to your song!

The Central Park Reservoir is named after Jackie Onassis who once loved to jog around it.

I wonder what she would think if she saw it today?

The beautiful and serene trees, grass and plants that once surrounded the Jackie Onassis Reservoir have all been completely demolished and destroyed over the past year and have since been replaced by all kinds of trash and debris, floating against the barren rocks. 

From tennis balls to plastic balloons to bottles, bags, wrappers, shoes and even a toy raft.  They all drift aimlessly with the tide, brushing up upon rocks with little notice and fanfare.

They could do so for hundreds of years.

Yesterday, a friend, Laura Taylor, went to the Reservoir and photographed two seemingly desperate Canada geese walking up the rocks and begging people for food. (See photos below.)

The geese are "Hansel and Greta" who have once again returned to the East side of the Reservoir in order to nest and raise babies -- as they have done for the past five years.

But last year, something went horribly wrong.

The five otherwise healthy goslings all perished within five weeks of hatching.

At first, the deaths were a mystery as there are few predators around the Reservoir and Hansel and Greta are experienced and protective parents who successfully raised goslings in the past.

But reality is, that young goslings require plentiful and nutritious grasses and greens in order to grow and thrive. And virtually all plant life had been destroyed around the Reservoir, leaving the vulnerable babies to die from malnutrition.

Another goose pair, John and Mary suffered similar fate with the goslings they attempted to raise last year at the Reservoir. Only one out of four babies eventually survived long enough to fly out with parents.

It's not clear yet if John and Mary have returned to the Reservoir to attempt nesting again. However, Laura did see one goose swimming alone at the North side of Reservoir -- the area John and Mary usually nest.  But she did not see Mary.

I don't know if Jackie Onassis cared about or even was aware of Canada geese. But I do know she cared about and presumably contributed generously towards the upkeep and maintenance of the CP Reservoir and the lovely foliage that once surrounded it.

It's hard to imagine she'd be pleased with what it has disintegrated into: Trash, debris and a surrounding rock area that appears as a war zone or the aftermath of great flood, fire or hurricane; a virtual wasteland.

Jackie O is dead. But what about the thousands of runners, tourists, and others who traverse the world famous Reservoir everyday? What about the elite media, centered in New York City, but oblivious to what is happening in local parks?

Do they not notice the degradation, mindless destruction, trashing and ecological damage to aquatic and wildlife in one of the world's most prestigious parks?

Or, do they just not care?

And so, at least two geese have returned once again with the hope and preparation to raise little ones and fly off with them in August.

But will they instead face heartbreak and loss once again?

Few of the living s¿eem to notice or care.

But if one believes in an afterlife, then we might guess that somewhere there is a lone woman looking down in bewilderment and discernment and wondering, what have they done to her song?

She might even want her named removed from what has become an eye sore and barren death trap for small, helpless birds who never got the chance to live beyond a few weeks.  -- PCA

Is Silent Spring the Goal for New York City Parks?

It's been more than a year and a half since posting in this blog.

Much has obviously changed since last writing; the main change being that I moved last year from Upper East Side, Manhattan to Cortland, New York -- a small, 1950's type city in the central part of the state. (More about that in a later entry.)

But by far, the biggest changes have been in New York City itself.
And sadly, they are not positive changes.

One of those changes has been the deaths of more than 300  Central Park raccoons over the past year. Park officials attribute the high mortalities to a Distemper outbreak.

But it's hard to imagine any disease spreading entirely across an 843 acre park and wiping out virtually 100% of a population.  Raccoons generally don't move far from their home territories.

Unfortunately, there has been so little public information regarding the raccoon deaths and so few reported raccoon sightings that it's hard to speculate exactly what killed them apart from just taking at face value, what park officials claim.

But considering all the half baked truths, wild exaggerations and outright lies told in the past (Remember the 363 Prospect Park molting geese and goslings that "flew to a nearby cemetery" in 2010? They had actually been captured by USDA "Wildlife Services" and gassed.) let's just say I am skeptical.

Unfortunately, I am no longer in New York City to photograph, document and keep tabs on what is happening there and therefore, like everyone else, have to go by what is reported in the press (which isn't much) regarding the vanishing raccoons of Central Park.

I just have one lingering question on this matter:

Are there any raccoons left at all?

Another change and disturbing mystery concerning wildlife in Central Park were the deaths of 8 of 9 goslings last summer at the Reservoir.

Both, Hansel and Greta and John and Mary produced healthy goslings at the Reservoir, but between four and five weeks old, all but one gosling perished.

At first it was hard to figure what could account for such an abnormally high mortality among otherwise healthy goslings. There are not many predators around the Reservoir and both sets of parents were highly experienced and protective.

However, one major change had occurred around the Reservoir in the preceding months:

That was the complete destruction and removal of all existing foliage and plant life surrounding the Reservoir.

In short, the developing goslings had virtually nothing to eat!
They apparently starved to death before they could develop wings and flying skills to depart with their parents, what had been turned into a virtual wasteland.

Apparently, it is the objective of NYC parks to not only kill and harass Canada geese and destroy eggs, but also to starve out any goslings that manage to hatch.

And if we needed further "proof" of such allegation, consider the "No Feeding of Any Park Wildlife" proposal that Mayor deBlasio and New York City Parks are now trying to push into law:

http://www.washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2019/03/18/rally-to-prevent-criminalization-feeding-wildlife-nyc-parks-department/

As described in article, there was a public hearing a couple of weeks ago, there have been petitions and even a rally opposing this cruel and feckless proposal. But despite clear public opposition, the mayor's backing alone is a strong signal it will pass.

Imagine "arresting" elderly people with walkers or small children for feeding ducks or squirrels in NYC parks?

Though one of the contributing reasons for leaving New York City a little more than a year ago, was its (to me) heartless and unwelcoming attitude towards wildlife in general and Canada geese in particular, I never imagined it would degenerate into the wildlife hell it has become in so short a time!

I can't say I have spent even one day missing New York City.
As the saying goes, "Good riddance to bad rubbish."

 I just feel sorry for the animals still trapped in New York City parks whom the mayor and park officials now seek to starve out of existence.

Silent Spring indeed.   --  PCA

Night Flyers -- Signs of Winter and Changing Flying Patterns of the Geese

Canada geese and Northern Shovelers resting together.

The first of NYC wintering geese and ducks have arrived to Central Park.

Just a trickle of many more to come.

Geese and mallards.

 

When arriving to the Central Park Reservoir shortly after sunset last night, I noted many new mallards resting along the base of the rocks.

"Oh, there must be geese here tonight!" I thought.

Though mallards and geese don't normally fly together, they do tend to flock in the same areas and follow similar migration patterns.

Sure enough, as I walked a little further north, I suddenly heard excited honking as a bunch of geese were preparing for take-off from the Reservoir.

One by one, different gaggles took off, most composed from eight to twenty-five geese. Like so many skeins before them, they left via the invisible flyway in the sky that leads them east towards the direction of Queens. (Were they to fly south in Manhattan, they would be on potential collision course with Manhattan skyscrapers.)

Unlike skeins of migratory geese leaving the Reservoir throughout October and early parts of November shortly after dawn, these geese were instead, choosing to take flight at night.  This is a pattern I have noted over the past several years: Early predecessors tend to take-off and do most of their flying during daylight hours, whereas the later migrating geese seem to show preference for night flying.

Could this change have something to do with expanded hunting seasons that often start in many areas during November?  Could it be that night flying is safer for later migrating geese?

Since I can't ask the geese the obvious question of why they change flying patterns according to the calendar, I am left only to note the behavior change and the fact it is something repeated in observations over the course of years, not just days.

Another difference noted over the years is that the spring goose migration periods appear much shorter in the spring than the fall (usually lasting only from March through early April). One suspects that is due to the geese wanting to return early to nesting locations in order to choose the best spots.

But during the fall, goose migrations begin as early as September and continue well into December when at last, the geese (and ducks) who typically winter at the Central Park Reservoir finally arrive.

To that point, some of the migratory geese and ducks who choose the Reservoir as their January and February wintering locations, have already arrived, but there are many more to come. What we see now are just the first trickles.

I suspect that the early migrating geese we typically see in September and early October are likely from very far north regions, such as the Sub-Arctic and northern Canada whereas the geese flying in now might be from northern states such as Maine, Vermont or even upstate New York. Since they don't have to fly so far, they leave later. But that too, is speculation.  The fact is, there is not a whole lot of information on migratory goose flying patterns and the actual reasons for wide variations.

I stayed at the Reservoir for nearly an hour last night watching nearly all of the geese using the Reservoir as a temporary rest stop, take-off. Without exception, there was much honking and organization before actual take-off and it was interesting to note geese still in the water honking at their colleagues taking off and flying over them as if bidding them a fond Bon Voyage or promising to meet them at some designated spot.  

I regretted not being able to photograph the geese flying above me as it was dark and the geese were moving too fast. (Any attempted photos would have been blurred.)  Such a shame as at least one flock of about 25 geese had immediately formed the perfect "V" formation that Canada geese are so famous for.

It was finally interesting to note that though the geese and mallards seemingly arrived at the Reservoir yesterday around the same times, the mallards did not depart with their feathered friends. 

When finally leaving the Reservoir, I noted the mallards still quietly roosting along the base of the rocks.

"Not to worry" I imagine them thinking. "We'll catch up to the geese later."

Maybe night flying is not just their thing. 

The mallards apparently like their beauty rest.  -- PCA

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Despite Unusually Warm October, Migratory Canada Geese on the Move

And, they're off!

Over Central Park and heading east towards Queens in order to avoid Manhattan skyscrapers.

The geese move at blistering pace making photography difficult.

Take-off from CP Reservoir.

Perfect "V" formation.

 

It's been a while since posting in this blog.

A painful and frustrating bout with Shingles, along with "frozen shoulder," (both) in my right and dominant arm (and hand) has rendered typing and other computer maneuvers difficult.

But that is not to say I haven't been to Central Park on regular basis to observe and photograph the geese.

First, to catch up on where this blog left off this past August:

As predicted, the two goose families who had raised their combined four goslings together at the CP Boat Lake did indeed depart just shortly before the fledglings turned 11-weeks-old (the magic number seemingly for new goose families to leave child-rearing locations). It's not clear where the two families went after departing the Boat Lake, but there have been a number of geese coming and going at Harlem Meer over the past several months and it's possible the families joined up with them. Or, like Hansel, Greta and their new offspring, it's possible the two families left Central Park entirely not to return again until next spring.

The CP Reservoir (and Boat Lake) have been relatively goose empty over the past two months except for the migratory Canada geese who are now passing through and briefly resting at the Reservoir before take-offs at sunrise in great numbers.

Despite an unusually warm October in NYC in which people are still walking around in T-shirts and shorts, Canada geese have kept exactly to their fall migration schedules without missing a cue.

I have often maintained that Canada geese have their own calendars and stick rigidly to them regardless of fluctuations in weather or other circumstances. This is true whether the time of year calls for mating, egg-laying, departing molting or gosling-rearing locations or migrations. When the sun is in certain place in the sky and the days long or short, the geese pick up and go. These are patterns set over millennia and little, if anything alters them.

This is not however, to say the geese aren't adaptable.

Canada geese are extremely reactive and adaptable to danger and safety issues in their environments.  One of the prime reasons for many geese electing to stay mostly in city and suburban environments (even in winters when natural food is scarce) is safety from hunters. Safety is apparently more important to them than even food availability.

Canada geese can in fact, survive weeks on little food due to them eating heartily and building up fat reserves during fair weather. But if a bullet gets them or a treasured family member, their lives are effectively over.

This may explain why so many geese actually and ultimately winter in places like New York City and Chicago. Yes, the going can be tough in winter, but most geese (and ducks) are actually able to survive.

The geese who ultimately winter in New York City have not arrived yet. They are usually the last geese to migrate (probably because they don't fly that far) and don't typically arrive to NYC until December.

But for now, thousands of migrating Canada geese are passing through NYC and where they ultimately fly to and end up, I cannot say.

I just know there is an invisible and well-traveled "highway in the sky" through which virtually all the geese move. They do so eagerly and with great enthusiasm. It's amazing to think that many of them are only five-months-old -- literally babies on the move!

Every morning, within an hour of the sun's rising, the geese take off from the Reservoir in skeins of seven to twenty-five and head east over the shorter buildings of Queens. (They know enough to avoid the Manhattan skyscrapers were they to head directly south.)

As casual observer to the wonders above me, I can only rejoice along with the honking geese and wish them God's speed and protection.

'Till we hopefully meet again next spring.  -- PCA

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