Ocean Pines South Gate Pond

            Ocean Pines South Gate Pond is a shared community including humans and the array of wildlife that inhabit the area. A stone’s throw away from road that surround the water’s edge, a dock extends ten feet from the shore, where I stand leaning up against the railing. Large White Oaks (Quercus alba) surrounding the perimeter of the pond swing overhead in a breeze, shedding their leaves into the water as seasons change. A collection of large Loblolly Pines (Pinus taeda) at my back shield me from the view of the cars passing by. In the distance I can see a road and various buildings reminding me that this location is no wilderness.

            However, I have encountered little trouble observing several kinds of species at this location. In addition to the White Oak and Loblolly pine trees described above, fish species such as the Small Mouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu), Sun Fish (Centrarchidae), and Crappie (Pomoxis) and birds like the laughing gull (Leucopphaeus atricilla), Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), Canada Geese (Branta Canadensis), White Geese (Anser domesticus), and more make their home here. In my limited time at the location I realized I could only begin to tug at a few strands of the vast intricate web of interactions balancing this biotic community. The many ecosystems all play a role in maintaining the overall health in this location. Understanding the importance of this balance is crucial if humans intend to take on the responsibility of altering natural systems.

            Human residents of this community cherish their access to the pond. A gravel walkway lies just behind the Oaks territory where humans often trek in their leisure time. Anglers enjoy recreational fishing for the many game fish that the pond offers. Domestic White Geese are a resident particularly valued by their human neighbors due to the former’s long history inhabiting the area. A large population of domestic and migratory Canada Geese also take refuge in the pond’s vicinity. It is somewhat difficult to determine the difference between domestic and migratory geese. Domestic Canada geese are known to mate with the White Geese and produce hybrid offspring. Hybrid Canada Geese look very similar to their migratory relatives. Their overall body colors are nearly identical. The main differences are the white and grey color behind their red bill that rings around their black eye. Migratory Canada geese have a mainly black head and bill along with a white chinstrap. Their presence is not as welcomed as the White Geese due to their overwhelming numbers and impact on biodiversity.

            A complex system of social relationships between humans and other species is apparent in this community. Many creatures share these water and their surroundings in order to thrive. But trouble is brewing in pond city. The human residents of this area are expressing a growing concern for how the large amount of droppings produced by Canada Geese is causing a decrease in water quality. Canada Geese produce up to a pound of excrement per day. Droppings literally rain down on the waters when the Geese relieve themselves as they come gliding in to land. All this excrement is loaded with nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. As a result, algal blooms form and consume large amounts of oxygen in the water. Then, fish populations suffer from lack of oxygen and decrease in numbers.   

            The recreational value of having healthy water quality leads to human questioning of this Canada Geese residency. Community members have come up with a number of options to eradicate or at least drive away the non-migratory Canada Geese. One of the popular solutions to the problem was the use of a chemical to be sprayed onto the grass where the Geese feed. “Goose-BGone’s” active ingredient is called “methyl anthrylinate” which is considered to be a “human safe food flavoring derived from grapes” (oceanpines.org).

                  The complexity of these issues is far reaching and there is no simple solution to them. For humans and wildlife to coexist a compromise is needed, middle ground must be found. I question whether or not humanity is capable of grasping these issues as a whole in order to advance knowledge on the subject. Human value has a major impact on the health of ecosystems and our actions are largely responsible for the changes visible in our environment. The invisible or unknown aspects of relationships between species should be of utmost concern in society.

                  Humans that visit the pond seem bothered by the overwhelming presence of Canada Geese. The Geese display their discomfort if approached in a menacing way. They have hissed at me when I was heading towards the dock. They will lower their heads and charge if threatened. The domestic White Geese behave in the same manner but have been a part of the community for a longer time than the Canada Geese. I think the White Geese are also more aesthetically pleasing to humans due to their appearance. Their all white bodies may seem more pure than the mixed colored hybrid species that are appearing in Ocean Pines.

                  I feel as if I am a careful observer of the interactions that occur between the several species that are present. I do not feel like my presence affects these other species as long as I do not pose a threat. Personally, I stand at the dock observing trying not to make sudden movements. They become more streamline as they bow their heads and charge at another goose that invades their comfort zone. Interactions between the Geese and other humans seems nonchalant unless their territory is breached.

Daniel Herrick