(Photos -- 1--A mostly frozen Harlem Meer. The geese and ducks constantly swimming to maintain small, open pool. 2--Ducks and few geese grabbing treat yesterday. 3-- Geese seeking safety and open water at Reservoir.)
Probably the main reason we have a higher number of Canada geese in Central Park this winter than last is because of the warmer weather and the fact that up until now, most of the ponds and lakes remained open and moving.
That seems to be confirmed in this hunting article from Kentucky that basically bemoans the "low" number of geese to shoot at:
If not forced to fly thousands of miles south due to harsh northern winters, the geese can attempt to stay further north provided there is open water -- and they are willing to work for it
"Work" is exactly what the geese and ducks have had to do at Harlem Meer over the past week or so.
Temperatures have been well below freezing for almost a week now and yesterday, more than 4 inches of snow fell in New York.
It was very surprising the other night to discover that, (between the two species working together), the geese and ducks succeeded in keeping a large pool of water open at Harlem Meer despite temperatures dipping down into the teens and 3/4 of the lake freezing over.
But, it is not work to be taken lightly.
If Brad, the domestic Rouen duck has been reluctant to leave the constant swimming and diving duties -- even to eat -- that is nothing compared to the geese!
Friday night, I noticed several gaggles of geese constantly swimming in the open pool of water, along with the Bradly Brigade and numerous mallards.
But, when I tossed out seeds in the usual spot across from the pool, only the mallards and three domestic ducks came for it. (The mallards flying across the ice and Brad, Piggly and Wiggly running across it like accomplished ice skaters.)
Only when most of the treats were gone, did one gaggle of geese finally leave the water and come flying and skidding across the ice.
It was Buster and his group of six geese.
But, like Brad, the geese were reluctant to leave their duties and seemed in a hurry to eat and get back to "work."
I only had a couple of handfuls of seeds for Buster, but it didn't seem to matter much anyway. Buster and his troupe only stayed a few minutes and quickly returned back to the pool.
The same was true of Brad, Piggly and Wiggly.
No "departure rituals" over the past couple of nights.
It seems the geese and domestic ducks are afraid that if they are away from the pool anything more than five minutes, it will entirely freeze over like the rest of the lake!
Yesterday was the same story.
Only this time there was the snow, even more frigid temperatures and the open pool of water was considerably smaller.
Some of the migratory geese and mallards obviously left Harlem Meer for the totally open water still at the Reservoir.
Perhaps the dangers of thin ice at Harlem Meer became too much for them -- especially the geese.
Because they are larger and heavier than ducks, the geese, when skidding across thin ice, sometimes fall through it.
It is then a struggle for them to pull themselves out of the tiny circular pools.
One could imagine the conversations among the geese when debating whether to stay or leave the Meer.
"Look, this ice is getting dangerous! Its thin and unstable. If we fall through a hole, it is not easy getting out. The Reservoir is totally open. We should hop over there until this stuff either hardens or melts."
But, Buster obviously had a different take on the situation.
"We just have to be willing to work to keep an open pool! We should not move around on the ice. We fly if we have to get some place. The food is better here than the Reservoir. I say we just stay and work!"
The result of this imaginary debate is that there were about 30 geese still bravely hanging in at Harlem Meer yesterday.
And a "new" group of about 40 geese at the Reservoir.
Almost all of the geese were busily swimming in the open pool when I arrived at the Meer yesterday, along with the Bradly Brigade and about 30 other ducks.
But, unlike the ducks, the geese refused to leave their duties even when I showed up with sustenance.
Only when most of it had been distributed to the mallards and the three flightless ducks, did a few geese break away from duty to fly and skid across the ice. At least two geese fell through the thin ice, but they managed to pull themselves out.
About five geese finally made it to the embankment and a couple started to grab at the remaining seeds in the snow.
But, it seemed no sooner did they arrive when loud honking emanated from the open pool across the lake.
"Get back here immediately! This water is starting to freeze over! We need you to pitch in and start swimming!"
Every goose AND duck immediately halted the eating and headed -- like they were shot out of a cannon -- back to the pool.
I never got the chance to figure who the 4 or 5 geese actually were who dared to break away for a few minutes to grab a snack.
But, I was quite sure the goose doing all the honking from across the lake was Buster.
(Most likely the "rebels" were Daffy and his beleaguered family trying to keep tabs on and protect him.)
Buster was none too pleased.
All the ducks and geese were finally back in the pool and dutifully swimming.
But, after a few minutes, a few of the more cantankerous and rebellious mallards chucked the grind of constant work and returned back to the embankment to grab up what few seeds remained.
But, Brad, Piggly and Wiggly were not among them.
Brad is of course, every bit the task master that Buster is.
Winter finally arriving to New York City has been hard on the geese and ducks -- perhaps harder than last year because the weather has been so variable and hasn't really prepared them for sudden and drastic change.
Even the ice that has formed on the lake is the thin and dangerous kind as opposed to being rock solid.
Perhaps it is thus not surprising that a number of geese left Harlem Meer for safety reasons.
But, for those (like Buster and his troupe) who remain and wade it through the battles of the ice, "rewards" will come next week when temperatures are predicted to rise again back into the 40's.
Mother nature will once again aid in melting the ice.
In the meantime, it is duty, organization, cooperation and constant, unrelenting work..
And hope like hell, you or one of your family members doesn't fall through thin ice. -- PCA
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