Duck Feeding
Please Help Highland Park Keep Wildlife Wild!
Lakeside Park is renowned for being a natural habitat for various species of ducks. Visiting the park with kids or grandkids has been a cherished tradition for many families. While the ducks may eagerly approach you, feeding them, especially bread, can be harmful. Nature provides everything they need to stay healthy. However, if you still wish to feed the ducks there are excellent alternatives.
So many birds!
When people start feeding ducks and geese, the birds lose their fear of humans and can become more aggressive, while also being easier prey for animals that eat ducks and geese. Some birds will also die because they cannot compete for the natural resources or the human handouts.
Having too many birds in one place is also not good for the environment. The birds can become a nuisance by grazing on grass, and excess nutrients in ponds caused by birds.
Why can’t ducks eat bread?
Many common foods fed to ducks, including bread, are low in protein and cause poor nutrition and severe starvation. Visible symptoms of poor nutrition can include:
- Loss of flight: Ducks may lose their ability to fly due to weakened muscles and poor feather quality.
- Decreased reproduction rates: Poor nutrition can lead to fewer offspring and unhealthy chicks.
- Reduced life expectancy: Ducks can have shorter lifespans due to compromised health.
- Angel Wing: A condition caused by a high-calorie diet, leading to deformed wings that stick out sideways.
- Increased aggression: Malnourished ducks can become more aggressive as they compete for limited resources
- Increased dependency on human food: This dependency can cause reduced foraging skills, overpopulation, and habitat disruption.
What should I feed the ducks instead?
If you would like to feed the ducks, opt for half-cut seedless grapes, cooked rice, chopped lettuce, birdseed, peas, corn, and oats.
Where should I feed the ducks?
Please feed the ducks at designated areas near the water’s edge as the ducks are more comfortable and safer near the water. Feeding ducks in the water also protects landscaping from being destroyed. Additionally, please take your litter and properly dispose of any packaging or leftovers to keep the park clean.