By Karenlyn Barone
While the Canadian goose may be one of the most magnificent migratory birds of North America, it is also one of the most annoying should it decide to take up residence in your neighborhood. The number of "resident" migratory geese was once small and insignificant, but in recent years, due to leftover hunting stock, the number of neighborhood geese has grown. Their calling card covers jogging paths, village greens and what appears to be their favorite "dumping" ground, golf courses. Their presence can be intimidating and their manner is often perceived as aggressive.
The geese have become a source of controversy, and a sound solution to the problem evaded local government officials until Dick Flynn, director of recreation for the Village of Lynbrook, attended a seminar sponsored by Nassau County Parks Commissioner Doreen Banks. The keynote speaker was David Feld, president of Geese Peace.
The organization, with a home base in Fairfax County, Va., is dedicated to humane solutions to wildlife conflicts in communities, with programs that emphasize effective, long-term solutions that are environmentally sound and safe for wildlife. It was just what Flynn was looking for to rid village parks of the bothersome birds.
With the help of Geese Peace's president, David Feld, Flynn found a friend in Willow, a 1-year-old border collie whose mission was to solve the geese problem and return the recreation areas to the community.
Visiting these areas on a regular basis, Willow has made the places the geese had found attractive enough to nest in suddenly very unattractive, forcing them to move to another location. Willow's barking and undeniable presence humanely pushes the geese to areas that are farther away from those populated by humans. The geese are redirected, unharmed, to areas where their presence will not interfere with neighbors.
"It works," said Flynn.
The program works so well, in fact, that when the surrounding villages of East Rockaway, Valley Stream and West Hempstead heard of its success, they asked to borrow Willow. As a result, parks and golf courses, village greens and lakeside areas in all the villages are cleaner and free of the goose nuisance.
"We knew the dog would get rid of the geese in a humane way," said Valley Stream Mayor Edward Cahill. "It's a great plan, and it was badly needed."
Valley Stream, in fact, had its own dog, A.J., who was used to control the geese problem, but he was adopted and became a resident's pet, so officials decided to borrow Willow.
"Having a resident dog go out whenever they are needed makes a big difference," said Tom Roberts, recreation supervisor for the Village of Valley Stream. "It's great the way the villages are working together on this. Our geese population has been reduced by about 70 percent."
Feld credits the success to Banks' commitment to the program and her efforts on behalf of the villages. "I had to persuade the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to issue a county-wide permit so that we could get this program under way," said Banks. "I'm so glad these villages are participating in this together. I believe it's a really important program and the only practical solution."
Recognizing Banks' efforts and Flynn's dedication to this humane approach, Feld presented a $3,000 grant to encourage the villages to continue to work together and share their successes. "These villages have implemented a solution in the most humane way," he said. "The program is not only humane, it is ecologically sound and repeatable."
Flynn's goal is to have the villages serve as a cluster, sharing Willow's services and the resulting expenses. Ideally, a village representative would pick Willow up from her home base in Lynbrook and take her to the areas in that village that need her attention. The cost for each village has yet to be determined.
"Up to this point, the program has been free to us," said Flynn. "With the grant money, we will be able to buy Willow and share our resources with the other villages."
The West Hempstead Water District's water commissioner, Michael Uhl, is very excited to be part of the cluster. "Willow was down at Hall's Pond, where we have a problem with geese," said Uhl. "She is a perceived threat to the geese, and within one hour she had cleaned up the place. I'm impressed."
For more information on Geese Peace, log onto the not-for-profit organization's Website at www.geesepeace.org.
"Why NOT feed ducks and geese?
*Feeding ducks and geese is against local regulations.
*Bread and popcorn are unhealthy for ducks and geese.
*Some ducks and geese can become so agressive that they have to be removed from the area.
*Gaggles of birds may create a nuisance.
