New York Plans Mass Killings of Geese

Tenzing N.

tybird-

Am I correct in assuming that, once airborne, they have no predators? I'm curious because when dealing with planes they don't behave like smaller birds. They tend to roll and change directions but not dive.

tybird

Tenzing N. wrote:

tybird-

Am I correct in assuming that, once airborne, they have no predators? I'm curious because when dealing with planes they don't behave like smaller birds. They tend to roll and change directions but not dive.

I would not say absolutely no predators while airborne...a larger bird of prey could take a run at them, but I would suspect that would be pretty rare. I would suspect that their actions during flight have as much do with aerodynamic differences than predator avoidance. Canada Geese are built on very different airframe than smaller birds, and they carry a good deal more weight when compared to their distant relatives. Canada geese weigh between 3 1/2 to 9.8 lbs, while a Mallard duck only averages about 2.4 lbs. A Red-tailed hawk only averages about 2.4 lbs. The smallest average length of a Canada goose is still a couple of inches longer than the average Mallard. So, it may simply be that their body design requires them to fly differently.

Tenzing N.

Interesting point. I think it has more to do with predator evasion than mass. Small birds always dive, larger predators (hawks, eagles, falcons) tend to start flapping and change direction while climbing and vultures don't do anything. Geese have some wierd rolling motion that I think is designed to confuse. In fact, in large groups it can be tough to figure out where they'll go. It may be that they aren't able to fold their wings quickly enough to dive but I don't know.

This all makes it tough to avoid the larger birds because when you see small birds ahead you climb, knowing they will descend.

tybird

Tenzing N. wrote:

Interesting point. I think it has more to do with predator evasion than mass. Small birds always dive, larger predators (hawks, eagles, falcons) tend to start flapping and change direction while climbing and vultures don't do anything. Geese have some wierd rolling motion that I think is designed to confuse. In fact, in large groups it can be tough to figure out where they'll go. It may be that they aren't able to fold their wings quickly enough to dive but I don't know.

This all makes it tough to avoid the larger birds because when you see small birds ahead you climb, knowing they will descend.

Interesting points...have not seen much in the literature about changes in flight among different species as viewed from the air...other than what is used to make field I.D. from the ground.

Vultures are known as poor "fliers".....they soar on the thermals for the majority of their flight. Due to their body plan, they will use too energy if required to flap for extended periods of time.

yahamita

Where I live in Oregon, the Parks and Rec dept have been gassing the geese and giving them to the homeless shelters for food..If you want to read this ongoing saga, pull up The Bulletin, or The Source Weekly..The crazies even had a vigil for the dead geese and asked the community if they have geese to bring them out to repopulate..its an on going fight here in town..

cincybearcat

Geese have no natural predator...therefore their populations EXPLODE.

I'm not sure what the right answer is, but doing nothing is not a good one.

And don't blame me for over-population, I'm not having more kids.

haffajappa

Jeanwah wrote:

I don't really agree with the sport of it either, but I understand that a lot of people like venison. (not me)
And I understand the need to hunt deer otherwise overpopulation would bring problems for the deer and us. Cold winters lead deer to dying from starvation.

I completely disagree with the "sport" of hunting, if you want to call it a sport. Trophy hunts should be completely illegal.
But I agree with you about the deer. If people are hunting the deer and eating them, I have no problem with this.
I don't like when they stand over them and hold up their antlers and smugly take photos of them... its nothing to brag about, killing an animal with your automatic rifle and acting like some sort of champion for it. If you hunt them as a source of food, that's fine. More humane than a slaughter house. You don't have to be an arrogant dick about it though. Hunters should be like the natives before us, who thanked the land and the animals for their sacrifice. Not ignorant people acting like they've really accomplished something. Anyways, that has nothing to do with anything i guess just ranting haha.

Commy

haffajappa wrote:

Jeanwah wrote:

I don't really agree with the sport of it either, but I understand that a lot of people like venison. (not me)
And I understand the need to hunt deer otherwise overpopulation would bring problems for the deer and us. Cold winters lead deer to dying from starvation.

I completely disagree with the "sport" of hunting, if you want to call it a sport. Trophy hunts should be completely illegal.
But I agree with you about the deer. If people are hunting the deer and eating them, I have no problem with this.
I don't like when they stand over them and hold up their antlers and smugly take photos of them... its nothing to brag about, killing an animal with your automatic rifle and acting like some sort of champion for it. If you hunt them as a source of food, that's fine. More humane than a slaughter house. You don't have to be an arrogant dick about it though. Hunters should be like the natives before us, who thanked the land and the animals for their sacrifice. Not ignorant people acting like they've really accomplished something. Anyways, that has nothing to do with anything i guess just ranting haha.

its a good start. hunters shooting an animal from 300 yards or so with a rifle, ther'es little sport in that. native americans had a thing where they would touch their prey.....it went so far as to be included in battle, they would reach out and touch the enemy, as an act of bravery. imagine touching a hibernating bear, or sneaking up on a deer an touching it, tha'ts fucking hunting. and killing a deer with a knife, there's hunting.

respecting the animal, that should be a big part of hunting.

haffajappa

Commy wrote:

its a good start. hunters shooting an animal from 300 yards or so with a rifle, ther'es little sport in that. native americans had a thing where they would touch their prey.....it went so far as to be included in battle, they would reach out and touch the enemy, as an act of bravery. imagine touching a hibernating bear, or sneaking up on a deer an touching it, tha'ts fucking hunting. and killing a deer with a knife, there's hunting.

respecting the animal, that should be a big part of hunting.

i quite agree!
i said on here once i'd like to see people go out with bows and arrows, and people said some hunters do...
...but i dont mean those high tech bows they have nowadays... i mean the real shit. 8-)

tybird

Most deer hunters wished that it was as easy as some of you claim that it is.....legal and ethical hunters spend many a cold morning looking at the trees just hoping for one shot.....real life is not an arcade game where the animals parade out in front of you for a set length of time and distance. $1000 rifles and fancy hi-tech bows don't guarantee a successful hunt....a hunter still needs a lot of skill and luck on his side.

If modern hunting is so easy....how come deer populations are still rising in the eastern U.S.?

mikepegg44

tybird wrote:

Most deer hunters wished that it was as easy as some of you claim that it is.....legal and ethical hunters spend many a cold morning looking at the trees just hoping for one shot.....real life is not an arcade game where the animals parade out in front of you for a set length of time and distance. $1000 rifles and fancy hi-tech bows don't guarantee a successful hunt....a hunter still needs a lot of skill and luck on his side.

If modern hunting is so easy....how come deer populations are still rising in the eastern U.S.?

nicely said...

mikepegg44

haffajappa wrote:

i quite agree!
i said on here once i'd like to see people go out with bows and arrows, and people said some hunters do...
...but i dont mean those high tech bows they have nowadays... i mean the real shit. 8-)

Not to be a smart ass and not sure if you care, but by moving backwards in technology you are putting more deer at risk for long, slow deaths. The quicker the kill the less pain and suffering a deer will have to go through.

tybird

mikepegg44 wrote:

haffajappa wrote:

i quite agree!
i said on here once i'd like to see people go out with bows and arrows, and people said some hunters do...
...but i dont mean those high tech bows they have nowadays... i mean the real shit. 8-)

Not to be a smart ass and not sure if you care, but by moving backwards in technology you are putting more deer at risk for long, slow deaths. The quicker the kill the less pain and suffering a deer will have to go through.

Well said...and quite correct

OnTheEdge

Hunting geese in NY could be fun. Perch up on the roof of the tallest building and blast away. After all, they are edible. Not sure how well the dog would do fetching them though. :?

OnTheEdge

haffajappa wrote:

Commy wrote:

its a good start. hunters shooting an animal from 300 yards or so with a rifle, ther'es little sport in that. native americans had a thing where they would touch their prey.....it went so far as to be included in battle, they would reach out and touch the enemy, as an act of bravery. imagine touching a hibernating bear, or sneaking up on a deer an touching it, tha'ts fucking hunting. and killing a deer with a knife, there's hunting.

respecting the animal, that should be a big part of hunting.

i quite agree!
i said on here once i'd like to see people go out with bows and arrows, and people said some hunters do...
...but i dont mean those high tech bows they have nowadays... i mean the real shit. 8-)

I've killed a deer with a knife before......after I shot him.

unsung

A mountain lion made it into the city of Chicago a couple of years ago and the police shot and killed it. So this thing gets lost and shot for it.

Set some traps or use some drugs on it, it isn't a rat.