Bird sanctuaries - here is an extract from Game and Fish:
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NEW JERSEY
. . . populations of resident Canada geese have continued an upward trend, . . .
The Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) has done a good job at protecting the state's marshes and wetlands. Even with continued development, waterfowl habitat has remained fairly stable, especially in the central and southern portions of the state.
. . . New Jersey has both freshwater and saltwater marshes. With extensive bays, small rivers and streams along its 100-plus mile coastline, along with the tea-stained water of the Pine Barrens, it's easy to understand why New Jersey is a major stopover along the Atlantic Flyway for ducks and geese.
When you combine these numerous wetlands with the plethora of small parks, golf courses, corporate centers and other areas off-limits to hunters, it's easy to see why the resident Canada goose population is estimated at over 100,000 birds.
. . . Garden State water- fowlers have between 350,000 and 450,000 big birds to shoot at every year.>>
and intellectual approach to the problem from another site:
<<with all the talk about illegal immigration from mexico an building a security fence, we should be doing the same, made of cyclone fencing and topped with razor wire to a height of 5 miles to keep those friggin' geese out. let 'em go through the regular check points all along the border, walking in gaggles, where they can be tagged, two poind lead weights chained to each ankle and an electronic beeper harnessed around their neck. oh, yeh, considering how much they **** all over our pristing green lawns, parks and wetlands, we should crazy-glue their assholes shut>>
More seriously here is a map of the Atlantic flyway
Migration Flyways
It is perhaps likely that the geese were overwintering in the Bronx area from October to May.
October 1May 21Canada GooseBranta canadensis