[EBB Sightings] Canada Goose Management

A few comments to stir the pot.

I generally agree with a. 

Regarding b, I strongly suspect the geese ARE a real problem, at least
during molt when their numbers crest. All of that raw goose manure and
feathers going into the lake have to have an impact on water quality and
oxygen levels. I'd like to hear from an environmental scientist with direct
knowledge of water quality tests at Lake Merritt whether the winter
population is big enough to be an issue.

Observation c is right on. We've created acres of irrigated goose pasture so
it's no surprise we have geese. 

As for d, there are alternatives to paving. We could replace turf with
native bunch grasses and shrubs in areas that are not designated picnic and
play areas. Those plants go dormant during summer and would provide less
forage value. As a side benefit, we could greatly reduce our irrigation
bill. Remaining lawn areas could be surrounded by low fences or hedges,
which would effectively exclude molting geese when they're flightless. (I
observed that when lawn areas along Lakeshore were cordoned off with orange
temporary fencing while the pedestrian path was rebuilt a few years ago.
Those lawn areas remained free of goose manure, even though the fence was
only a couple feet high.)

I'd love to know how to fish for geese.

As a further observation, I anticipate lots of people would argue that we
need no management at all, either lethal or non-lethal. (I've had this
debate with Chronicle columnist Jon Carroll. He controls more column inches
than I do so I guess that means he won.) In support of some form of active
management, I would point out that we have no effective predator-prey
balance at Lake Merritt, at least until we reintroduce coyotes to Lakeside
Park. More importantly, Breeding Bird Survey data suggests California's
summer goose population has increased substantially statewide over the last
20 years (see
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/plotpgm0.pl?/sula/jrs/bbs05/htmind/0172
0.cal). That tells me there's not much value in establishing a local
sanctuary for persecuted geese, especially if it comes at the expense of
viable habitat for other native birds and aquatic critters.


Bruce Mast
Rose Garden Neighborhood
Oakland, CA
 
-----Original Message-----
From: sightings-bounces at diabloaudubon.com
[mailto:sightings-bounces at diabloaudubon.com] On Behalf Of Hilary Powers
Sent: Friday, March 09, 2007 8:43 PM
To: ebbsightings
Subject: Re: [EBB Sightings] Canada Goose Management

Canada Goose wrote:

>  Hi folks,
>  
> Jones & Stokes and the City of Oakland are researching management
> techniques for Lake Merritt's Canada Goose population. This list was
> recommended as a good source of local knowledge for non-lethal
> population management. 
>  
> Suggestions? Recommendations? Local examples, vendors, rangers?

What? No comments at all? I had a nice chat with Rosalyn the other day - 
voicing my strong opinions:

a. Relatively few geese live at the lake year round, and the breeding 
season isn't all that successful. Lots and lots of critters eat 
goslings. The big bump in population comes from the molt migration, 
where every third goose in Northern California flaps down to Lake 
Merritt for a nice rest while replacing flight feathers in relative peace.

b. The geese are a resource, not a problem. The molt migration generates 
two months' worth of free fertilizer and lawn-mowing. They'd be more of 
a resource (and less numerous) if the city were to issue goose-fishing 
licenses.... (I explained how to fish for geese.)

c. Feeding the geese or not feeding them makes no difference - they get 
everything they need from the grass.

d. The only way to get rid of the geese would be to pave the lawns. And 
you'd probably still have to electrify the new parking lots, or turn 
them into dog runs.

Arguments?

-- 
- Hilary Powers - hilary at powersedit.com - Oakland CA -
-   Freelance copyediting and developmental editing  -
-      The edit you want, when you want it done.     -
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