Over the last 30 years, however, the migration of Canada geese has been disrupted—perhaps even irrevocably changed—by humans. In some places, Canada geese have come to be regarded by a few vocal people as nuisances or pests. The result has been an alarming trend toward rounding up year-round "residential" geese during early summer, when the adults are molting and cannot fly, and taking them to slaughter. The Humane Society of the United States challenges this needless, brutal practice.
I have yet to hear New York City Audubon take a stand on this brutal practice. Aren't they suppose to be advocates for our feather friends?
Officials Euthanize Nearly 400 Geese From Prospect Park
By ISOLDE RAFTERYNearly 400 Canada geese and goslings that had been living at Prospect Park were captured and euthanized last week as part of an ongoing effort to reduce the goose population in the New York City region.
Early on Thursday morning, wildlife biologists and technicians descended on the park and netted the birds. The biologists, who work with the wildlife services division of the United States Department of Agriculture, then packed the geese two or three to a crate and took them to a facility where they were gassed with lethal doses of carbon dioxide, said Carol A. Bannerman, a spokeswoman for the wildlife services division.
The wildlife specialists had taken advantage of the fact that the birds were in the middle of molting season, when they shed their feathers and are unable to fly. On Monday morning, only four geese were seen out on the lake in Prospect Park, according to one nearby resident, and it was not clear if they had avoided the roundup or arrived in the days since it occurred.
Last summer, 1,200 geese from 17 sites around the city were euthanized. The authorities have been trying to thin out their ranks since two geese flew into the engines of US Airways Flight 1549 in January, 2009, causing it to splash down in the Hudson River. Everyone on board survived.
The absence of the birds was noticed by park enthusiasts and landscapers, though officials at Prospect Park were not notified of the specifics about their removal. Two of the park’s birds gained some notoriety because of their disabilities – one was missing the top part of its beak, and another had a crossbow bolt speared through its neck.
The Prospect Park geese were not the only ones removed in the last month. The goal is to remove all geese within seven miles of La Guardia and John F. Kennedy airports.
Early on Thursday morning, wildlife biologists and technicians descended on the park and netted the birds. The biologists, who work with the wildlife services division of the United States Department of Agriculture, then packed the geese two or three to a crate and took them to a facility where they were gassed with lethal doses of carbon dioxide, said Carol A. Bannerman, a spokeswoman for the wildlife services division.
The wildlife specialists had taken advantage of the fact that the birds were in the middle of molting season, when they shed their feathers and are unable to fly. On Monday morning, only four geese were seen out on the lake in Prospect Park, according to one nearby resident, and it was not clear if they had avoided the roundup or arrived in the days since it occurred.
Last summer, 1,200 geese from 17 sites around the city were euthanized. The authorities have been trying to thin out their ranks since two geese flew into the engines of US Airways Flight 1549 in January, 2009, causing it to splash down in the Hudson River. Everyone on board survived.
The absence of the birds was noticed by park enthusiasts and landscapers, though officials at Prospect Park were not notified of the specifics about their removal. Two of the park’s birds gained some notoriety because of their disabilities – one was missing the top part of its beak, and another had a crossbow bolt speared through its neck.
The Prospect Park geese were not the only ones removed in the last month. The goal is to remove all geese within seven miles of La Guardia and John F. Kennedy airports.
Cal -
ReplyDeletePlease see our statement at http://www.nycaudubon.org/home/home/geese2010.shtml
Although the NY Times quotes are accurate, their characterization of our position as supportive of THESE activities is inaccurate.
Recent research conducted by the USDA here in NYC suggests that resident Canada Geese mostly move very little. In their study, over 80% of the geese remained within 3km of where they were collared. Prospect Park's resident geese, which reside more than 10km from the nearest airport pose no more risk to aviation safety than geese residing a hundred miles from the City.
NYC Audubon encourages everyone concerned with the City's failure to make a thorough environmental assessment and provide opportunity for public and stakeholder commentary before undertaking these actions should call 311 and register a complaint. Please see our website for details on how to best do so.
-Glenn Phillips
Executive Director
NYC Audubon
Just to be clear, resident Canada Geese are not migratory birds that stopped migrating, but rather these are introduced birds which have mixed parentage of several different subspecies (including the Giant Canada Goose from the Midwest.)
ReplyDeleteUnlike our local (and migratory) Atlantic Canada Geese these birds are much larger and reach sexual maturity in just a single year, a trait they get from their Giant Canada Goose genes. These geese were introduced to New York and other northeastern states as game birds.
For a good history of these geese, check out Ducks Unlimited's website: http://www.ducks.org/Conservation/WaterfowlBiology/2113/UnderstandingWaterfowlResidentCanadas.html