This is what malnutrition looks like in watefowl. This feral domestic duck is in the Dunkirk Harbor suffering from a condition called "angel wings." It is caused by people feeding it BREAD! This can cause a nutritional deficiency that makes their wings grow the wrong way and renders the bird flightless. Please people, don't feed bread, cereal, crackers, cookies or other human junk food to the birds!
Wish we could get this information and photo in all the local newspapers! I see folks feeding all sorts of food to the ducks - usually right next to the "DO NOT FEED THE DUCKS" sign! LOBearsian
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this. I was not aware of this problem.
ReplyDeleteI found an article that lists some more nutritionally appropriate foods people can give to ducks if they really want to feed them.
http://birding.about.com/od/birdfeeders/a/whatduckseat.htm
Best,
Eric
I agree with the first comment: I, too, see people feeding ducks bread right next to the signs that warn them not to. It's amazing how selfish some people can be just to see the ducks come closer! Good post, Gale; it would be great to get this out to some local newspapers!
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your comments! I just wrote a letter to the Dunkirk newspaper asking them to consider publishing an article on this topic.
ReplyDeleteYour photo should accompany the sign Gale. Very disturbing.
ReplyDeleteHow can we get a sign made to be used at ALL sites?
"Although eating junk food won't cause you to grow "angel wings", it can do that to waterfowl."