Greetings,
I have a perplexing issue to share but especially
with those of you who might frequent the Lasalle
Marina in Burlington.
For the past two years I have been watching the waterfowl
in this area, but with particular interest in those specific
birds who reside in the bay immediately surrounding the
marina/sialing club. I have come to know them as individual
birds.
This area is well used by boaters, fishermen, dog walkers,
and is also a hot spot for parking/hanging out at night.
Every year, a number of birds attempt to nest along "the
point), a small piece of land immediately west of the sailing
club dock/boat house. Last year, 5 Canada Geese nests and
one morning dove nest were seen along this point at various
spots by the water. Likewise, this year, three Canada Geese nests
and one mute swan nest have been monitored. In all cases
(last year and this year) with the exception of the mute swan
nest, all 9 nests have been destroyed within the last week of
incubation. It forms a pattern. In every case, the eggs are removed/tossed
from the nest and most of them are smashed.
It all cases, the smashed eggs reveal a fully formed gosling).
In some cases, the actual nest has been partially shoved into
the water. And the female nesting birds are terrorized (evident
in their eyes) the next day.
Up til last Wed, my theory has been that it must be young kids
who hang out along the point at night (evident by the human
garbage found around each nest). Last Wed night around 11 pm
I checked on the last nesting geese pair and they appeared to be
incubating. It seemd as if they might beat the odds with only a
few days left before the gosslings were going to hatch. However,
I returned the next day at noon to find the same situation ...eggs
tossed and smashed, nest disturbed, garbage, terrorized female.
But something else, too. Within two feet of the nest, I found
two thick yellow cords tied to tree branches; these were connected
to two minnow traps which were submerged in shallow water by
the shore. I am now convinced that it is fishermen who might be
destroying these nests but of course, I cannot prove this. It is
definately a human pressence (not wild predators). And the
birds are helpless to defend themselves.
My question is this ...are fishermen allowed to trap minnows in
parks (ie. can someone tie minnow traps to public property and leave
them unattended for long periods of time)? I am livid that people
disrespect geese (and other local waterfowl) to the point that
so many nests could be destroyed in this way. But it is all part of
a two year pattern that continues down there. Since these birds have
no offical advocates, is there any advice anyone can offer? Is there
anything that can be done without bringing further attention to the
geese who seem to be targeted for potential removal by the City of
Burlington all the time (and are at particular risk during their current
molting period).
Just as an aside, last year, the City of Missisauga sent a dozen men
with a pick up truck to a public beach for a mass round-up of molting geese
and removed them to a hunting ground. I realize what I write
is very controversial.
My apologies for the length of this email. But if nothing else, I just
wanted to make this issue a matter of public record (for the Ontbird
archive).
Needless to say, any insights are greatly appreciated.
Thank you for reading,
joan
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