Geese at Goddard (fwd)

[John Bois <jbois@umd5.umd.edu>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 08 Jun 2000 06:41:56 -0400
From: Darlene E. Walter <dwalter@pop200.gsfc.nasa.gov>
To: jbois@umd5.umd.edu
Subject: Geese at Goddard

John,

I got your message from yesterday.  I was out of the office yesterday as I
will be today.  You asked about the abundance of geese here.  First of all,
the urban population of Canada geese has exploded in the past 10 years
without biologists knowing a definitive reason for that, so the problems we
have at Goddard are not unique to us but part of an urban explosion.  What
we do know is that we have a great environment for them.  A large storm
water pond with a clear flight path; employees who like to feed them (we
have since posted "no feed" signs); short mowed grasses; and a general lack
of predation or intimidation in general.

Hope this helps.  I'll be back in the office tomorrow if you need to talk
to me.

Darlene Walter

***********************************************************
Darlene E. Walter
Environmental Protection Specialist
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 205.2
(301) 286-6137  Fax (301) 286-1745
***********************************************************