There have been lots of complaints about the over population of Canadian Geese in Queen's Park due to the state of the grass and paths that are covered with faeces which Geese deposit every five minutes.It is extremely toxic and dangerous and is made worse by them being fed with bread and stuff like popcorn and other human foods. This results in an unsustainable number of C/Geese nesting and settling in Parks and as a result, the Native Geese are driven away. I checked the Internet and with the RSPB and compiled a letter which I sent to the Leader. It was published last week and there was a scathing response published on this weeks Letter page. The letter was signed "Anon" and referred to me by name three times but the person who wrote it didn't have the courage to sign it which denies me the same right of reply. That will not prevent me responding anyway. Many people would not care how the Geese were removed from the Park but the majority of us would, myself included, therefore my contact with the RSPB.
I would be interested in any opinions that the members of this site may have. Prior to checking the Internet, I didn't know anything about this subject and only realised there was any problem when the subject was raised at Neighbourhood Resident Meetings over the last two years, so maybe there won't be any interest anyway. Incidently the RSPB say the Geese should not be fed but should be left to source their own food which would help to keep the population down naturally and would prevent deformaties in the birds which often kill them. Please let me know what you think!!!!!!

i to was unaware of the problem over the geese, more aware now after your letter and post here. But why does the leader publish letters and not the writers name, if their letter is good enough to publish then its good enough to have a name beside it.
unless there is a very good reason not to publish names, and a difference of opinion over some geese does not to me, seem good enough reason to withhold names
signed ANON

Hi Steve,
I will write to the Leader so watch the letter page, I'll try to ask anon to come clean. Pam

I remember that Lincoln had a problem with its resident swans on the Witham a few years ago. People were feeding them chips!!!

Some of the birds died of starvation because they lacked the nutrition and some actually sank and drowned because they were obese.

People think they are being kind feeding the wild animals and the geese are very beautiful. A little treat can't harm surely...

However if everyone feeds them 'a little treat' and the bird doesn't eat properly; you end up with over population and mutations,and compromised immune systems. Just look at urban pigeons for another example - how many of them even have two feet? They look so tatty. The mayor banned the feeding of pigeons at Trafalgar Square for a reason.

Our local Tescos in Watford has put up notices asking people not to feed the ducks because they were reproducing too much. It was leading to nasty injuries as they fought for resources and extra rats. Their numbers are now down and they seem in better physical condition.

People aren't so fond of rats (poor ratties!) so maybe mentioning them might help.

Eating junk food yourself is your choice but you shouldn't be forcing it onto children, pets or wild animals who cannot say no! It's morally wrong as well as being a blight on our health and environment.

Thanks for your comments which were really useful. It is good to have someone else's opinion and common sense understanding of the problem. I am equally happy to hear from people that do not believe the experts such as the RSPB, providing that they give an alternative solution. Your examples regarding Lincoln and Watford prove a point.

Why do you live in Watford. We could do with your input around the Town!!!

I went down South to Uni and find work. I'm afraid Mabo doesn't have the sort of jobs I do.

Why does that not surprise me! It is a shame, but I'm glad you had the opportunity and good luck with all you do. (What do you do, if that is not too intrusive)?
At least we have your input on this site, so please stay with us!!

Hi Pam, saw a TV programme about an airport that employs a collie dog to run around herding the geese up and then chasing them off away from the site. They come back in the evening but it worked out ok.

Hi E.J..
Glad someone takes my subject seriously, I got my letter of reply published on the letter page of the Leader last week. I hope to get a further response in tomorrows copy unless everyone is bored to death with the subject.

Re. Leader letter page today. The letter writer responded to my item and was quite hostile in his reply. I will need to respond again but need to fact find on a couple of things first. I have actually met the chap before and had a good chat with him. He is Peter Gregory who I mentioned had some photographs in the Lincoln Archives. I don't know if he is related to our John Gregory, but they look alike! I would like to meet up with him sometimes to talk about the geese and why the RSPB advised us to stop feeding them. I hope he has calmed down by the time I contact him!!

I'm sure I was at primary school with one of the Gregorys. Their family had a chip shop on Vic Rd at the time. I remember him being a pleasant boy, whichever one it was.

I am in the Knowledge Transfer team at Acas. It's really hard to describe what we do (apart from overlapping with Communications and Research and annoying them) but here's a link:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_transfer

Back to the topic - I wonder what underlying issue has got Mr Gregory so upset. There's usually a way in which both parties can reach agreement (I've worked in Acas quite a while, can you tell?) Especially when there is a strong interest in the care and upkeep of the geese on both sides.

I wonder if the Lincs Wildlife Trust would have a view?

I sent an e-mail to my RSPB contact and he replied immediately and sent me some information from the Natural England Web Site which is very informative. I mentioned Mr. G's comments regarding feeding the geese daily and his insistance on carrying on doing so with both grain and bread. Mr. G. says that the geese are moulting and therefore cannot fly elsewhere for a few weeks so need feeding until the grass grows again. The RSPB expert says people just do not look at the bigger picture and make the situation worse, which can then result in forcing the local authority to consider culling the geese. I would not be comfortable with such extreme action.
I intend to try to contact Mr. G. to invite him to a Neighbourhood Management Residents Meeting so that we can discuss this ongoing problem as it is raised frequently. I will also remind Mr. G that his reaction to my first printed letter was rarther hostile, especially as I did not suggest harming the geese. I intend to deal with him as respectfully as I can as he is a well known local character and I did have an interesting conversation with him regarding old photographs early last year which I hope he remembers!