Seems the Mallards are congregating down at the duck pond in the park today. Once upon a time these guys were wild however they've quickly become accustomed to being fed so more and more are hanging out in the hopes of grabbing a quick and easy meal which is kinda sad cause freebies are stopping them from doing what they should be doing & eating. Not too sure what is up with these two.
The SSPCA here are trying to stop people feeding the ducks and swans white bread. It's been proven to cause serious health issues. Instead they want them to buy little bags of mixed seeds as it's a more natural diet. Thanks for the lovely photographs.
There was a small stream running through a park in the town where we previously lived. Parents would bring children there to throw bread at the ducks. A friend of ours did this, and I offered to give her seed for the ducks, but her grandchild "just loved to feed the duckies!" and she persisted. Guess whose grandchild got a good pecking when the bread ran out . . . . Feeding bread to ducks can be injurious to more than the fowl.
@Cayuga Morning - Here we get swimmers itch in a few of the lakes that have an over abundance of water fowl in them. They can carry a parasite that gets into the water and hence onto humans.
Illegal to feed water fowl here and because feeding them keeps them from migrating. Then the numbers multiple so quickly Christmas dinners are provided for some organizations that provide meals for the less fortunate. Otherwise the park becomes a health hazard because of the fowl poop.
@Jewell - I agree that feeding them (especially Canadian Geese) makes them want to remain and stops the migration process.
