People start out feeding Ducks often because there is an injured one or there is one with ducklings. This begins by giving some food, which as time passes, becomes an increasing amount of food as more and more birds become aware of this food source and turn up.
Female Mallard Duck with her ducklings
Firstly, it is not good for any wildlife to rely on human handouts. The bird world would consider the food we feed out to be the equivalent of our takeaway food. Humans do not live well on just takeaway food nor do birds (and other animals).
Tauhou (Silvereye) in Winter
Birds have a tendency to breed to the amount of food available eg lots of food = lots of babies (chicks). A small helpful start ends up as a nightmare for neighbours and sometimes the person/s feeding. Excessive breeding and larger numbers of birds in one area creates problems (large amounts of bird poop, lots of birds sitting around and also health problems for example sparrow chicks with feather / growth problems). Can also create health problems for humans (zoonoses).
A lack of calcium in an unnatural diet makes poor feathers and these birds cannot keep waterproof. Ricketts in ducklings and other birds, angel wing (photo below), large amounts of noise, outbreaks of disease are a few of the problems that can happen when birds become dependent on you as their only food source. Another issue is when people poison the birds to get rid of them. This is a short term solution which often cause a lot of suffering to birds/animals and people in the neighbourhood.
Goose with Angel Wing at Western Springs
Solution:
Long term weaning which can be done in in 6 weeks or spread over a 3 month period or longer.
Start by drawing up a plan – on your calendar will do. Every week or every so many days the amount of food is reduced . Select an amount ¼ or several cups less then pick a day and every day you have picked reduce the amount of food on this day (this is really easy to do!). When you arrive at the smallest amount of food to feed out then you need to stick to this amount of food going forward at all times – or continue this above until you are no longer feeding out any food.
People like to feed the birds because they are kind and have love for animals. There is nothing wrong with this but you need to remember that longterm it is more harmful to have the birds depend on you than it is to have them fend for themselves. In times of drought or particularly bad weather it is beneficial to help the birds but always remember that the birds out there are wild and need to live as naturally as possible.
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