By Lisa Kava

In the middle of May, just as spring arrived in New York City, six goslings were born in Morningside Park. Locals enjoyed watching the newcomers to the neighborhood waddle around with their parents. Photos were posted on Instagram of the sweet family, who brought smiles to the faces of park visitors.

But by the end of June, as their feathers began to come in, it became clear that something was not right. Parkgoers noticed that the goslings’ wings bent out to the sides and seemed to hang low. Photos were posted on the neighborhood app Next Door.

Allison Jones, a senior volunteer for the nonprofit organization Friends of Morningside Park was particularly concerned and reached out to bird rescue organizations hoping for answers. Jones connected with Jessica Hope, at They All Want to Live, and Rita McMahon, the director of the Wild Bird Fund.

Jones learned that sadly five of the six goslings developed a deformity called Angel Wing Syndrome, and will never be able to fly. The condition can be congenital or a result of poor nutrition, she told West Side Rag in a phone interview, explaining that it often happens when birds are fed bread and processed foods.

“Angel Wing Syndrome occurs when birds do not get enough necessary vitamins and minerals,” Jessica Hope elaborated. “Wild birds are very good at seeking out and finding proper food in the wild but when they are routinely fed unhealthy, human foods, they fill up on this instead of the food they should be eating. This results in the nutritional deficiencies that cause Angel Wing.”

Both Jones and Hope often witness people feeding bread and cheerios to geese in Morningside Park, despite signage which says not to feed wildlife. “The goslings in Morningside Park were being fed junk food.” Hope said.

McMahon, of the Wild Bird Fund, told WSR that if Angel Wing Syndrome is found early enough it could be corrected. “If the birds get to us when they are very young and fuzzy, we can put splints on their wings and help them to fly. Unfortunately, these goslings are past this point in time.”

Birds who are unable to fly may not survive winter. “The problem is that once the ponds and lake freeze the geese cannot get food,” Hope said. “A flightless goose is at risk of starvation and lack of water when ponds freeze.”

Traffic stoppers- CPW and 110th this morning. #birdcpp pic.twitter.com/ZtZVl8q5AC

— Caren Jahre (@CarenJahre) August 13, 2022

McMahon began to search for a sanctuary for these Angel Wing geese. As she was putting together a plan, something unusual and unexpected happened. In mid-August, the parent geese were spotted walking their babies (through traffic) from Morningside Park to a new home at The Pool in Central Park at 110th Street.

“These parents are incredible,” McMahon said. “They really thought about what they were doing and decided that Central Park was a better place for their kids.”

“Canada geese are extremely loyal to, and protective of their families. The parents of the goslings who developed Angel Wing Syndrome in Morningside Park are healthy and flighted, and likely familiar with the city parks and where bodies of water are. When a new flock of geese arrived at Morningside, the parents decided it was best to leave, but their kids couldn’t fly. They walked them from Morningside to Central Park, through traffic. It is incredible but not surprising. They are incredibly intelligent and emotionally complex birds,” Hope said.

McMahon found a sanctuary in upstate New York that agreed take in the geese. Rangers from the NYC Parks Department will “apprehend the birds once the parents leave and bring them to the Wild Bird Fund,” McMahon said, explaining that the parent geese eventually migrate. Wild Bird Fund will then transport the geese to the sanctuary in Rensselaer County, NY, which hosts other Angel Wing geese, and has two ponds, a heated barn, and a full-time caretaker. “They will have freedom to roam with other birds. This will be their forever home,” McMahon said.

“Our Urban Park Rangers are monitoring the goslings. We plan to keep the family together until the flying adults migrate in the fall. Rangers will work with WBF to transport the birds afflicted by Angel Wing Syndrome to [the] private sanctuary.” a spokesperson for Parks wrote in an email to West Side Rag.

Normally Canada geese parents migrate once their goslings’ primary feathers come in, McMahon explained. “But these parents have shown extraordinary care for their young, taking them to The Pool in Central Park by foot.”  WSR asked what will happen if these parents do not leave. “We have not encountered that before, but I think we would take the Angel Wing geese to the sanctuary and let the parents go on with their lives which is the usual pattern of life for geese.”

Allison Jones said that new signs with more specific details about the dangers of feeding wildlife have recently been placed by residents. She hopes that with further explanation and education people will not feed the geese.

“I don’t think most people feeding the geese meant any harm.  But we really need to raise awareness, it’s so important,” Jones said.

McMahon agrees.  “These geese will have a happy life at the sanctuary, but we must spread the word that feeding birds is very harmful. Do not feed the birds. Leave them be. People need to understand there are serious ramifications.”