1. Phil Barber reports:
2. Exchange.
A. Your Editor.
B. Phil.
3. Editor’s Analysis.
A. Disappearance.
B. Nesting Geese killed on their nests.
C. Cambridge City Manager on Women’s Rights, City Council response.
(1) Actions.
(2) City Council position.
1. Phil Barber reports:
Ed: This follows on Phil’s initial report on these nesting swans at Alewife, posted at http://charlesriverwhitegeeseblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/cambridge-ma-usa-nesting-swans-at.html.
I first learned of this update from Phil yesterday, May 22, 2017, everything before my analysis in section 3 below is verbatim:
* * * *
Sorry to report things are not well with the swans. The nest is abandoned and one swan is missing. The remaining swan looks unwell. I observed him yesterday just bobbing in the current with his head under his wing, rising up a little now and then to survey the scene. I also discovered what I suspect may be the cause, a massive old snapping turtle paddling along in the pond. I’d say he’s 30” – 36” from beak to tail, and here’s a photo of him among the algae which also seem to be degrading the pond.
2. Exchange.
A. Your Editor.
In your knowledge of animals, is a large turtle capable of killing a swan?
My gut reaction is human destruction.
The surviving swan, I should think, is in mourning.
B. Phil.
I thought the same thing about the surviving swan. I believe I've heard they mate for life. It certainly is possible that the swan who seems lost was done in by humans. It would have been an effort to get to the nest, but it was plainly visible from the walkway, where anyone with evil designs could have spotted it.
The snapper I saw was very large, so my first thought was that it might be capable of taking a large waterfowl. I did a little research online about such a possibility but haven't yet come up with a definitive account. They do regularly catch ducks and young swans, I found. This link says they can't kill an adult swan http://www.enterprisenews.com/article/20100824/News/308249717 while this one says they can http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatreptileblog/2008/06/06/the-snapping-turtle-chelydra-serpentina-miscellaneous-facts/
A coyote could do the damage as well, I found in another article.
3. Editor’s Analysis.
Two examples at the Destroyed Nesting Area.
And one broader example, following up on the argument to the Cambridge City Council when decent human beings were trying to get responsible behavior there that bad people graduate from animal abuse to abuse of human beings.
I recall so many nests being suddenly destroyed and Mother Geese “disappearing.” One featured a nest under a large board against the BU Bridge.
Suddenly, the board and the Mother Goose was missing, the babies were all over the place and the Father Goose was nuts.
B. Nesting Geese killed on their nests.
Another example came when a nut ran around killing nesting Mother Geese on their nests.
Concerned people begged the Cambridge City Council to stand up to the outrage, reminding the Cambridge City Council that heartless animal abusers are frequently graduates to attacking humans.
The Cambridge City Council was silent, the “wink and a nod” support common of fellow travelers.
Several months later, a young woman was raped in the Destroyed Nesting Area and murdered on the Grand Junction railroad bridge, above where she was raped.
Evidence which came out, and the looks of the key convicted murderer, rather clearly indicated a graduation from heartless animal abuse to rape and murder.
The Cambridge City Council discussed the rape and murder for an hour. They somehow could not mention where she was killed. They spent a lot of time talking about Harvard Square.
Councilor Davis (remember her?) briefly mentioned the location of the rape and murder, looked around guiltily, swallowed her words and resumed the lack of knowledge practiced by her fellow councilors.
C. Cambridge City Manager on Women’s Rights, City Council response.
(1) Actions.
City Manager Robert Healy led the destruction at Magazine Beach and the subsequent deliberate starving of the now 36 year resident Charles River White Geese.
There has been a parallel case concerning a female, black Cape Verdean department head, Ms. Monteiro, who had the nerve to expect the City of Cambridge to, in reality, implement its claimed support of women’s rights.
Judge, jury, and Appeals Court all agreed that Healy destroyed Monteiro’s life in retaliation for her efforts supporting women’s rights in the City of Cambridge workplace.
“Reprehensible” said the judge of the behavior of Healy.
“Ample evidence of outrageous . . . misbehavior” said the Appeals Court panel.
More than a million dollars individual damages, and more than triple penal damages said the jury.
(2) City Council position.
The Cambridge City Council named the Police Station after Healy.
