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December 01, 2004
Cranking out morality faster than crap through a goose!
Because they face no natural predators and are still protected by the 1916 Migratory Bird Act, so called "Canada geese" are seriously overpopulated in many areas, including the Philadelphia area. Philadelphia International Airport's proximity to the Delaware River makes it attractive to geese. Airport spokesperson Mark Pesche says that can cause trouble for planes during takeoff and landing.When geese collide with airplanes, it isn't a case of size prevailing -- like a dinky subcompact hitting an 18-wheeler. Here's a typical example of what Canada geese do in Philadelphia's airspace: Date: 23 August 2000Well, at least no one was killed. No one is killed by goose droppings either. Yeah, I suppose they'll foul the pools and golf courses, and children will pick up the turds and eat them, but that's part of life. They're a nuisance. So what I want to know is why the taxpayers are shelling out large sums of money to do stuff like this: Treatment: A warm bath is only part of the attention the birds get.I do not countenance animal cruelty, and I support efforts to prevent oil spills like the one last week. But cleaning up Canada geese? How much does this cost? Here's a web site which claims it is expensive, but won't say how much: Q. How much does it cost to rehabilitate oiled birds?What the hell does that mean? Don't they care? Is this a moral crusade or is there utilitarian value in saving Canada geese? According to USA Today, at the time of the Exxon Valdez spill, the cleanup and rehabilitation cost was $10,000 per bird. That was 1989. I'm afraid to ask who pays. And I'm afraid to come across as a hard-nosed utilitarian, but considering the problems caused by Canada geese (the recent oil spill was not far from the Philadelphia airport, by the way), I can't see shelling out thousands of dollars per bird. Bald eagles are one thing, but this is ridiculous. There's also a scolding tone to the whole business, and when I read through these articles and see the pictures of the birds, I get the distinct impression that someone is trying to manipulate me, to treat me as a small child. "Mommy, why did the bad men spill oil on the birdies?" I'd be willing to bet that similar questions are being asked daily, in hundreds of homes around here. The way the papers cover these things, you'd think there was a religious war going on. Good versus evil? Please. The rate such "moral lessons" are cranked out by the MSM approaches the rate of goose defecation: Bunnell said geese hop from neighborhood to neighborhood to rest on retention ponds and graze on grass.Every seven minutes? That's quicker than you can start a morality, er, movement.
AND MORE: Has anyone ever asked whether geese like this? Or does the panic-stricken animal know its life is to be saved by the loving workers? Soap-based "tough love" used to be applied to humans, who at least were supposed to have known it was "good for them." Which is why I spoke of "crap" through a goose . . . posted by Eric on 12.01.04 at 12:21 PM
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» One more reason to hate geese from SayUncle
I still hate the damn things. As a property owner, I find them vile. A good sized flock can turn acres of grass into a pile of turds in a few days. They're loud, obnoxious, stupid, and generally unpleasant. They are also protected by some arbitrary... [Read More] Tracked on December 1, 2004 01:23 PM
Comments
I agree. But you are being rational! I think the purpose here is to impart a moral lesson. (A point mostly lost on busy adults.) Eric Scheie · December 1, 2004 04:46 PM They had a major problem with domesticated Canada geese in Seattle a few years back, so they decided to have a mass killing of the birds to bring the population down. Of course, they had to argue about humane ways of killing, and they decided it would be a bad idea to dispose of the birds by, say, certifying the meat and giving the passing grade stuff to soup kitchens, but just throwing it away would be wrong... I don't know how that ended up. Personally, I would have fenced off the parks that had problems, allowed a few hunting permits per, and made those darned birds migratory again. B. Durbin · December 1, 2004 07:10 PM Im a North Philly Burb resident and the whole Canadian Goose thing is completely out of control here. They dont even bother to leave anymore. The oil spill here went from the northern most point of Philly down past the airport. That area of the river has got to be the most polluted sludge pit south of the Hudson. With the old navy yard, the airport and the score of refineries and 200 year old sewer pipes, how can you tell what came from the tanker and what is a continuing problem ... argh, now I have heartburn. You cant even eat the damn birds because they are so toxic to begin with. Now that would really give me heartburn. mdmhvonpa · December 1, 2004 11:13 PM |
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I suspect that few are aware of the high cost of bird recovery, and little consideration is given the agony the birds go through. A more humane process would be to kill any bird that would not recover on its own, then if it was scarce require the spiller to breed replacement birds.