Nature lovers are being asked to stop feeding ducks and geese bread as part of a campaign to improve their diet.
And to help improve how our feathered friends are fed, Northern Ireland councils are being asked to set up special food dispensers. Ards and North Down Council is the latest local authority to sign up to the Feed the Ducks Initiative, which takes special urgency in the cold months when people mistakenly think they are helping birds by throwing them bread crumbs.
The scheme aims to reduce the amount of bread and inappropriate feed being sprinkled in parks by installing special Duck Feeders, with food available all day every day.
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Wildfowl naturally eat a wide range of aquatic insects, snails, worms, pond weed and other vegetation. While important at all times, a natural and balanced diet is especially important during the breeding season for ducklings, goslings, cygnets and the rest.
Nutrient pollution caused by large amounts of bread and other foods being thrown into ponds can cause harmful algal blooms, which deplete oxygen levels within waterways and kill off aquatic wildlife. This risk of this bloom is increased in summer time.
Excess bread is also harmful to ducks, and can cause malnutrition, disease and bad behaviour, and can be an attraction for undesired pests. Bread and other foods can also contribute to destructive silt build-up in ponds.
Ards and North Down Council states in a council report for its Community and Wellbeing Committee: “An important and valuable asset within the Ards and North Down Borough Council portfolio, Kiltonga Nature Reserve, is a well-used community close to the residential areas of Newtownards. Kiltonga is well known for the abundance of wildfowl, with large portions of the site designated a nature reserve, much of which is managed in conjunction with Strangford Lough Wildfowlers.
“Viewing and feeding of the wildfowl on-site is an activity enjoyed by many visitors each day. Although done with the best intentions, the use of bread and similar products to feed ducks and geese is cause for concern.”
It adds: “Designed as a green initiative, the feeders are contactless, solar powered and made of recycled plastics (each feeder recycles the equivalent of 20,000 water bottles). The feed is dispensed to hand, helping to reduce plastic litter waste.
“The feed is also a special high protein-based feed that is suitable for the diet of ducks, geese and swans. Dispensers provide two sizes of feed to cater to different family sizes at a cost of £1 for 100g and £2.50 for 300g.
“Members should note there is no cost to the council and feeders are managed entirely by the Feed the Ducks scheme. This includes topping up feed, cleaning, and maintenance of the dispenser. 10 percent of all proceeds are paid back into a local community project or group, at the discretion of the council.
“Each feeder aims to provide a source of education and includes a sign notifying the public about the issues of bread feeding, what food they can feed should they not use the dispenser, and a QR code that links to a website specifically built for each location. This website includes fun facts about the park, the local habitat and content that children can engage with on habitat conservation.”
At the committee meeting this week Ards and North Down elected representatives agreed to support the installation of a dispenser at Kiltonga Nature Reserve.
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