Beautiful, beautiful day

Well, we've been going to the park on and off, but just haven't felt the blogging urge in a little bit. Today. when I didn't have my camera, I was, of course, inspired to write. Where to start? A couple of days ago, we went up the hill and found 17 crack bags, mostly near the base of the hill. Had the rain washed them down? Was this because we hadn't been in a few days (the rain)? Was there a party? Was this one last smoke-in just before the new antismoking rules went into effect? We speculated endlessly and, I think, entertainingly. Today we got our answer: none of the above. Fourteen crack bags today. Spring is here. It's a beautiful, beautiful day.

Actually, it feels more like summer. Beautiful quiet spots all over, with thick overhangings of trees. Lots and lots of dogs and owners, all enjoying this gorgeous day. We saw two groups of geese, one group of 19 and one group of 7, all adults. These were all at the SE part of the lake. Wer have no idea if there are more at the other end or in other parts of the park, but it was nice to see the 26. Three cygnets, looking big and beautiful.

Rumor and hearsay: The "park dog," as he is called because of the belief that he actually lives here, may not. There have been reports of a man in the park every morning, feeding him. And he does look well cared for. Current rumor is that someone leaves him in the Park all day as a day care site.

More about the geese

So, Dave showed me the pictures of the adorable goslings born a week (?) ago a couple of days ago. I thought it might have been a good idea to keep it quiet, but by the time I got to my computer, it was public news, with many calls for fan clubs, contests, etc, etc., etc., to make the goslings known and, hopefully, keep them from being killed. See http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_138907256129160&ap=1

So here we are, hoping to keep the geese alive. There are only 4 of them, so far, and only 20-30 in the entire lake, depending on who is doing the counting. How much is the city spending on this nonsense??? Why?? This whole geese thing is SUCH a wonderful example of flushing good money down the drain. To recap: There were a lot of geese last summer, around July. The Park didn't do anything. B"berg decided to get the feds to kill them all. The feds couldn't kill the ones at Gateway, (they are federally protected) which were really too close to the airport and an actual danger so they killed the park geese - 9 miles away from the airport and resident - no danger to airplanes at all. Although I am still correcting people I meet about that. Oh, and they lied about for nearly a week. So then, a few migratory geese came and went. PANIC PANIC PANIC!! Quick!! Hire people! Oil the eggs! Chase away the geese!! Why? Damned if I know. Damned if anyone knows, but it sounds so manly and decisive. Honestly, don't we have enough problems in NYC without making the geese into another one?

I doubt that these new babies will be killed, but I could be wrong. Why do I think this? Killing hundreds of them last summer sounded so manly and dynamic. Killing 4 babies this year doesn't. I could be wrong, since logic and common sense haven't been used yet - Why start now? But seriously, use the money to pick up trash instead - so much less intrusive and more appreciated. Ah yes, less intrusive and more appreciated. So it will never be done.

Meanwhile, dogs and people are enjoying this beautiful weather in the park every day. Love to all you animal watchers.

Odds and Ends

Second beautiful day, after the bad rainy one in which we all got caught in it. But today and yesterday!!! Didn't want to come home at all. Today was just B and I and JJ, so we went around the lake - see photo of the 'back' area. Very few water fowl to be seen - the 3 cygnets, Papa Swan, maybe a dozen geese, and a couple of dozen ducks, mostly in pairs. But the noise was intense! Loads and loads of smaller birds, making all kinds of sounds, being watched by several groups of birders at various places in the park. We had a lovely morning. Mothers Day coffee in the Parade Ground, watching football players and soccer players. Some great music wandering over from near the merry-go-round - it was the start of a triathlon. Loads of healthy looking people ready to go.

Lots of big dogs in the Nethermead, playing with really big sticks. The port-a-johns, which had been turned over yesterday, were nicely restored. No trash pickup seen, but lots of people bagging up trash to make for a clean, neat day. Happy Mothers Day, one and all!!!

Leave the geese alone!!

Stunningly beautiful day in the park today. Lots and lots of dogs, and only a few birds. And there was the GOOSEHUNTER!! On it's way to kill and scare off the few geese who are now in the park. The eggs have been addled. There are only 1 or 2 dozen geese in the park. And we're paying some jerk hundreds and thousands of dollars to let his dog off-leash and ride around in a kayak yelling at geese. When will we stop being complete fools?

Meanwhile, the lone goose seems to be having a lovely time and it's a beautiful day. Pictures coming later - there's a problem with them.

Wildlife count

Today's wildlife count: 14 geese, 5 crack bags, 3 cygnets, and a beautiful big white snowy egret. No pictures - I used up my camera's battery. Very annoying. I knew the battery was getting low, and left it next to the camera. However, in the mental haze of getting to the park early, I completely forgot it. I used to be kind of spontaneous and free-spirited and remember all kinds of things. Now, sad to say, I have to organize myself in order to remember things. So I leave the things I'll need to take to the park on top of the hall bookcase the night before - glasses, camera, watch. Now it seems like that doesn't work - it takes days to develop a new habit. Something to do with getting older. Oh well, it's better than the alternative.

Amazing that they did the Sunday trash pickup, since every can was overflowing again today. I picked up a lot more than just crack bags on Lookout Hill today. There was a huge beverage tray - the kind that the delivery trucks use. And limes, so I presume that it was a full party's worth of beer. Did not see the beer cans! Guess I wasn't the only one who wanted to stay all day in the park in the beautiful weather yesterday. And it makes up for the cooler, grayer weather that we'll have all week.

Ode to Fanny and spring

It was the most beautiful day imaginable in the Park today. Sun shining, blue sky, not too warm, a soft breeze on your skin that was quite perfect. We were four people and two dogs and we didn't want to leave.

We saw some baby turtles, and a huge great-grandpa. Some geese flying around - migratory or residential, I don't know, but it was gorgeous. And so many dogs!! Note: 19 crack bags on Lookout hill, but even more birders out today!

The most exciting thing, though, was a garbage truck driving around picking up the trash! In all the time I've been coming to the park, I have NEVER seen trash pickup on a Sunday until now. Thank you, Emily Lloyd, the new Parks commissioner for caring. Beautiful weekends are always a problem. So many people enjoy the park for picnics, barbeques, everything, that the trash cans are overflowing by Sat. night, and Sunday has traditionally been quite disgusting. I stopped to thank the men doing the work. Don't know how pleased they were to be working on a Sunday morning, but I thought I'd let them know that someone appreciated them.

We also were very pleased to see Fanny. Fanny is a 14-year old semi-retired service dog that belongs to Tony, the head of FIDO. She collapsed a few days ago and was in the hospital. And of course, at 14, we kind of assumed the worst. Didn't happen!! We saw her today in the Peninsula. She's out, on medication for heart disease and seems to be doing fine, albeit a little slow. She is a wonderful dog, and we were very glad to see her.