A Lesson in Addling

A pair of geese floated across the pond in Degnan Park, making ripples in the water. Paired together, the duo seemed harmless, an inconspicuous union.

But, according to Del DelMaio, , paired geese can only mean one thing — gooslings are on their way.

Last Sunday morning, DelMaio explained that geese begin pairing off around this time of year to create nests and lay their eggs.

This time of year also signifies something else for many municipalities struggling to control their geese populations — time to addle eggs.

To curb the number of geese in West Orange, the . DelMaio, along with Councilman Joe Krakoviak and a handful of other residents signed up to help, too.

According to DelMaio, who trains local volunteers and property owners for the county, there is a very small window of time in order to humanely control the geese population.

She explained: volunteers must keep an eye out for the formation of nests. Once a nest is formed, the goose will lay several eegs but will not incubate until all of her eggs are laid. Volunteers then split up — one group keeps the geese at bay with umbrellas and the other group tests the eggs. Eggs are dropped into a pail of water and if they float, they are left alone — it is too late in the incubation process to addle the egg humanely. They are returned to the nest. If they sink to the bottom of the pail, they are coated with oil to prevent oxygen from entering the egg. The goose will continue sitting on the dummy eggs thinking they will hatch.

The process seemed simple, effective and most importantly, humane.

DelMaio explained the contracted company could only perform the addling in three designated areas — Stagg Field, Degnan Park and the Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center — as stipulated in the contract. But she said the geese often form nests on other people's properties. She said residents can get trained and certified to humanely deal with the nests on their property themselves or they can call her to do the job.

After our tour around Degnan, DelMaio took me to Crystal Lake where I was surprised to learn why parks are constantly reminding you to "not feed the birds."

We walked down the path that hugs the lake and came across a one-year-old goose whose wing jutted out from his body. DelMaio explained the goose couldn't fly and would never be able to, he had been fed food outside his natural diet.

Feeding water fowl bread, crackers or anything outside of their diets is actually harmful to them. This goose developed a condition called "angel wing" due to high protein foods.

I've fed many water fowl in my lifetime, wanting them to have a good meal or wanting to make sure they have enough food to eat, never knowing the real reason behind all those signs.

Though I didn't get to see the addling in action (Goose Control missed their appointment and was not present on Sunday,) I still learned a thing or two about geese.

DelMaio said the goose management treatment would hopefully begin this weekend or once the company rescheduled.