Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services
Though Im a self-proclaimed bird lover, I have to admit Canada geese dont rank high on my list of favorite avian pals. They poop a lot, wander anywhere they choose, are kinda mean, and cant seem to stop repopulating.
Even so, I have mixed emotions about new plans to kill 2,000 wild geese around NYCs airports, by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, and the USDA.
In an oxymoronic twist, the killings will be done humanely, according to a Bloomberg spokesman. They have a method of herding them into a spot to where theyre then transported and humanely euthanized in a manner approved of by the American Veterinary Association, the spokesman said, according to AFP.
Look, I get that the Canada goose population needs to decreasea difficult-to-accomplish goal for a species with few natural predators. These birds have caused almost , most of which occurred in the northeastern United States. Sixteen were reported at JFK, 32 at LaGuardia Airport. And I would certainly never put the life of a bird above a human life.
I guess I just dont like the thought of killing 2,000 innocent anythings, especially those passing through, like the this past January. Id just rather the citys governing bodies focus on other efforts to keep Canada geese out of plane engines.
Luckily, they aresort of.
The city plans to put up additional signs warning about the risks of feeding these birds and fill in a ditch at Rikers Island to discourage geese from living in a place just a hop, skip and jump away from LaGuardia.
The Port Authority also it will install a bird radar pilot program at JFK, hire a second airport wildlife biologist, and bring on board an independent evaluator to review Wildlife Hazard Mitigation Plans for the three major NYC airports.
Of course, its also training its airport supervisors as certified shotgun instructors so more people will know how to shoot the geese when necessary.
