found via rm:

Known for gliding along local waterways with statuesque grace, the mute swan is rarely thought of as an environmental hazard. Wildlife experts in Connecticut say that mute swans, like these at Holly Pond in Stamford, devour shoreline vegetation, displace waterfowl and other creatures, and can even attack people. But wildlife experts say that the swan’s elegant facade conceals an ecological menace that devours shoreline vegetation, scares away other waterfowl and can even attack humans. The bird is now a target of a campaign to reduce its numbers in the state’s delicate coastline habitats. The leaders of the effort are conservationists, including the Connecticut Audubon Society, which in the coming months will intensify a campaign to urge state officials to control the swans’ population, which stands at about 1,100. ... Kathryn Burton, president of SaveOurSwans U.S.A., a nonprofit organization in East Lyme, Conn., said the group would actively oppose the Audubon campaign as well. “I’m not going to let it go,” Ms. Burton said. “They really don’t care about the birds. It’s just unjust.” Connecticut’s swan population has more than doubled in the last three decades. Mr. Bull said that one idea for reducing the number of swans was to disrupt the nesting birds’ eggs to limit reproduction, a tactic known as addling. He said the Audubon Society was not suggesting that any of the 1,100 swans in Connecticut be killed — though other states have taken that step. full story

Humans are far more of a threat to the environment than swans. There are only 1,100 mute swans in Connecticut, if the human population of the state were only 1,100 the humans would still have more of an environmental impact, especially if those humans were typical modern Americans.

Environmentalists wanted to kill of the cherry-headed conures in San Francisco, the monk parakeets are always under attack even though they are essentially a replacement species for the extinct Carolina parakeet. Even here in Arlington, the Friends of Spy Pond still hate the geese.

The Audubon society wants to get rid of swans, well in this world nothing should surprise me anymore. Sometimes things still do, but they shouldn't.

I went down to Spy Pond to do my meditations, but couldn't really get in the mindplace. I don't think I'm going to end up doing anything on Project Schedule today. It has been suggested to me that I cut back on Project Schedule as it really doesn't seem to be happening.

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Much of the park on the shore of Spy Pond has been blocked off for over a year, and still is. Why? Because the "Friends of Spy Pond" succeeded in getting the city of Arlington to finance their anti-goose renovations. The two cornerstones of this plan have been the building of an fence between the pond and the park to keep the geese out of the park and the planting of species of grass that the geese supposedly won't eat.

The main reason the majority of the park has been blocked off for so long is that the anti-goose grass takes much longer to grow than standard species do. However, the geese don't seem to be waiting to chow down on it. They love it and seem to think of the "grass the geese won't eat" is the best grass they've ever tasted. I've never seen them packing the grass down at such a rate before.

The anti-goose fence doesn't seem to be doing a very good job keeping the geese away from the anti-goose grass. I can see two obvious reasons that fence does not work: 1) The geese can walk through the gap in the fence that allows boats to get to the water. 2) It's a fence and geese can fly.

What the "Friends of Spy Pond" have really accomplished is wasting a bunch of tax payer money and blocking off access to the park for over a year. The improvements that were included with the anti-geese measures have been minor and on their own would not have required blocking off access to the park for so long, if at all.

I imagine they'll be back to addling eggs and griping about people feeding the geese. Yet, they themselves have provided the best evidence that the geese are not attracted to Spy Pond by the people feeding them, as they are still flocking to the fenced off section even though no one is allowed in, much less people "illegally" feeding the geese. Furthermore their years of egg addling have only served to keep Spy Pond free of goslings. The number of adult geese around the pond has actually increased slightly over the years. The "Friends of Spy Pond" would be much happier if they'd just relax and watch the beautiful birds.

The new goose fliers are up.

Sara came over today. We went over to Spy Pond to feed the geese, but the geese were elsewhere. There were however, many ducks. So we stood around and fed the ducks. As soon as we ran out of food, the geese arrived. I felt bad we didn't have anything left to give them, so we walked back to the house_of_clocks. On the way back, I noticed my fliers were gone. Who took them down, I don't know, but I've got better one's to put up now. Sara thought my old fliers were a bit too ravenous, which might make people less likely to read them, so we toned down the rhetoric a bit (at least at the begining of the flier) and produced a new set of fliers that will go up tonight.

FEED THE GEESE As you walk into this park, you can't help but notice the beautiful birds. Pretty ducks, magnificent geese and regal swans make Spy Pond their seasonal home. The so-called "Friends of Spy Pond" take issue with the natural behavior of these birds. One cannot miss the signs posted by the "Friends", instructing visitors not to feed the geese and other birds claiming that this is for the good of the birds. However, their own literature states that every April the "Friends" gather to addle (kill) the eggs of the geese that nest around Spy Pond. They also claim that stopping the geese is for the good of the grass, as though people would rather see lush grass than natural beauty. However, this claim is easily put to rest as well, as the majority of the damage to the grass around Spy Pond is caused by human foot traffic. The fact is that they can't stand nature intruding on their precious park. Now, in the middle of a major town budget crisis, they want the Town of Arlington to erect an eyesore of a fence around the pond, to prevent these birds from "trampling" the grass, forgetting that birds can fly. This absurdity would funnel money away from our schools and libraries to fund their special-interest anti-bird paranoia. The "Friends of Spy Pond" must be stopped. Feed the geese. Write to Town Hall. Spy Pond should be for everyone, including the geese.

I was feeding the geese, ducks, and sea gulls, when one of the "Friends of Spy Pond" came up to me. This happened to me last year as well. She started in with "Do you live in Arlington?", "Do you know it's illegal to feed the geese?", and "Do you want to step in goose droppings?". I just ignored her and went on feeding the birds. She got in quite a huff and stomped off. As she left I saw her notice my flier on the bulletin board. You could practically see the steam coming off her head. My other flier has also been noticed by the "Friends", as it has "I hope you child sticks his hand in goose droppings then sticks it in his mouth.". I seem to have riled them up quite a bit. But the signs also seem to have taken an effect on people, as I saw more people feeding the geese than I normally do (however, they weren't as steadfast in standing up to the "Friend" as I was, and stopped when accosted). Nothing like causing a little trouble to lift one's spirits.

The fliers are posted on the Spy Pond bulletin boards. I'm sure the "Friends of Spy Pond" will take them down when they see them. No worry, I'll just print out some more.

I'm going to go down to Spy pond tonight and post the following message on the bulletin boards there:

GEESE ARE GOOD The so-called "Friends of Spy Pond" have an all out war against geese, ignoring the fact that many people enjoy seeing the birds, part of nature, in their waterside park. I'm sure you've all seen the signs put up by the "Friends" not to feed the geese. They feebly try to make the claim this is for the good of the birds, however, every April the "Friends" go out and addle (or kill) the eggs of the geese that nest around Spy Pond. They also claim that stopping the geese is for the good of the grass. People would rather see nice lush grass than beautiful birds. However this claim is easily put to rest as well, as the majority of the damage to the grass around Spy Pond is caused by human foot traffic. The fact of the matter is they simply hate animals. They can't stand nature intruding on their precious park. Now they want the Town of Arlington to erect an eyesore of a fence around the pond to stop these birds from getting on the grass, in the middle of gigantic town budget crisis. This is taking money away from our schools and libraries to fund their special-interest anti-bird paranoia. The "Friends of Spy Pond" must be stopped. Feed the geese. Write town hall. Spy Pond should be for everyone, including the geese.

merryperseis and I went out to feed the geese and swans and ducks at Spy Pond. A woman from the "Friends of Spy Pond" came up to us and said "I'm going to have to ask you to stop that.". She explained that there used to be grass growing around spy pond, which there still is except for where the people have trampled. Not to mention there are plenty of places to see grass. I just kept feeding the swans. She then told me that the place was a mess until she and the other "Friends of Spy Pond" cleaned it up last week. I've been going regularly for the last 3 weeks, and it looks exactly the same as it did. The dogs make more of a mess than the birds. I gave some food to a goose. She then stated bluntly that it was illegal in to feed the waterfowl. I calmly replied "Yes.", and gave some more food to the Swans. She walked away in a huff, and I fed the birds.

purpleglitter came over last night. We spent the night chatting. I haven't seen her as much lately, now that she has much work on her plate. I miss seeing her everyday.

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merryperseis and I just got back from feeding the geese at Spy Pond, which is technically illegal in Arlington. There is something peaceful and calming about feeding birds, and the birds seem to like it, so I see nothing wrong with it. Some pissy residents were worried about the number of geese in town, and felt feeding them attracts more. I say, you can never have too many geese.

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I've been drifting in a fog lately. I don't really know where I'm going, what I'm doing, or who I am. I desperately need to get my bearings. I waste so much time just lying down thinking about nothing. I need to get my life on a track. I need to do something.