Feeding ducks at ponds or parks: YES or NO? (1 Viewer)

[Transformer]

And if no, then why not?

 

[Dave B Smith]

Pros and Cons for feeding pond ducks. Here's a few that come to mind.
Con:
- lots of places post "no feeding the animal" signs, so you're in a small violation.
- feeding bread is really a nutritionally poor diet.
- might keep any migratory birds from leaving as soon as they should.
- birds loose their fear of humans and can actually become aggresive.

Pros:
- it's fun, and can teach youngsters to know and appreciate birds.

So, you decide where the balance lays and act accordingly.

 

[squirrelman]

People feed birds in parks and at ponds all over the place. I was ambushed by a gang of Black capped Chickadees in Fish Creek Park in August. I just crossed bridge #3 and was held up for all my sunflower seeds. Feeding ducks the right stuff instead of bread or crackers won't hurt them, but how many people actually know what is the right food. Feeding them corn and wheat can't hurt. I've seen people in our parks try and give the animals chow mein, potato chips, hot dogs and so on and I just shake my head. I don't think that even if the ducks get aggressive that they would do much harm. They may scare little kids but I don't think would be able to really hurt them. Canada Geese would be another thing and Swans could be dangerous, but ducks I think would be okay. But as you say Dave, as long as the birds migrate on time.

 

[Moonshake]

Other problems that I can see are that uneaten food can attract rats, and also, it could potentially lead to quite poor oxygen levels at the bottom of the pond as any uneaten bread (and also extra faeces from higher than usual levels of birds) sinks down through the water and is consumed by bacteria (that need oxygen to respire). So it could have an impact on the overall balance of pond life.

 

[saluki]

And if no, then why not?

If you want to feed the ducks, try feeding them barley (most wild mallard are flighting out to stubble fields at night to feed on barley at the moment). Don't feed too much and throw the grain into shallow water, this should solve the problem of rats.

Jonathan

 

[Transformer]

Thanks for the comments so far. There is a small pond in a nearby town, and I decided to check it out yesterday. I did see a mother and son feeding the ducks bread, which is why I wanted to get opinions here.

There was no sign telling people not to feed the ducks. The sign said stuff like "no illegal drugs." So much for the reputation of small wealthy New England towns!