New York protest over culling of geese

NEW YORK, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was the target of activists who said they're angry over the recent killing of 400 geese in Brooklyn's Prospect Park.

Protesters gathered outside the mayor's townhouse Monday night, chanting, "goose killer, leave town!" and carrying signs reading "Mayor Bloomberg to NYC Geese: Drop Dead!" and "Give Geese a Chance," the New York Daily news reported.

The 400 geese in Brooklyn were gassed last month by the city and U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Last summer, about 800 Canada geese near JFK and LaGuardia airports were killed to reduce the kinds of bird strikes that led Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger to ditch a US Airways jet in the Hudson River on Jan. 15, 2009.

Large resident geese populations are a health risk because they foul land and water with droppings and can damage aircraft, the USDA said.

"We're outraged by the mayor's destructive and violent crimes against wildlife," Edita Birnkrant, New York director of Friends of Animals said. "It's slaughter."

Bloomberg, who got past the protesters without comment, last month called the honking flocks a "danger to people flying. People are not going to stop flying and we have to make a decision. It's geese or human beings."