Canal charity calls on Merseysiders to feed the ducks responsibly
EVERY year 6 million loaves of bread
are being thrown into canals and rivers in England and Wales; potentially
polluting the water and damaging hundreds of thousands of ducks' homes.
Last year 74% of people in Merseyside fed the ducks, 80% of them admitting to
feeding our feathered friends with bread.
Uneaten soggy bread can cause a build up of bad nutrients which can lead to
greater algae growth, spread disease and encourage pests such as rats.
This week, ahead of the official start of spring and duckling hatching season, the
Canal and River Trust is calling on people across Merseyside to make a few simple
changes to how they feed the ducks.
Becki Anderson, senior ecologist for the Canal and River Trust, said:-
"Please come and feed the ducks but do it sensibly so your children and future
generations can enjoy it too. The charity is asking the public to make a few
simple changes. Bread's not great for a duck's health as it's nothing like their
natural diet so don't over feed them with large quantities of it. Try to vary
what you give them and swap it for healthier more natural treats like oats, corn
or defrosted frozen peas. And exercise portion control!
Don't follow the crowds, spread the love, and visit a new family of ducks to
prevent large quantities of the starchy duck 'junk food'
from clogging up the same places and potentially damaging the environment."
The charity provides an important home to hundreds of thousands of ducks and
other waterfowl and takes its responsibility of keeping their homes safe very
seriously.
Throwing bread into a canal or river can create overcrowding of bird
populations, as the birds will flock to the same location in search of their
starchy treat.
Too many ducks or waterfowl in one place can stress the birds and lead to their
habitats being damaged. It also creates excessive amounts of bird poo which
along with being smelly and slippery underfoot, can have a negative effect on
water quality and create harmful algae which can clog the waterway.
A public poll, carried out on behalf of the charity, found more than 15 million
people fed the ducks with their family or friends last year, 12 million of them
admitting to feeding our feathered friends with bread.
Londoners were the least likely to take a trip out to feed the ducks with 60%
admitting to never feeding our feathered friends. The survey also found more
women (80%) feed the ducks than men (68%), and northerners feed the ducks more
often than southerners (78% v 69%).
The charity has created a free booklet packed with tips on the right food to
feed the ducks which includes lots of activities for children. To receive this,
along with your free Quack Snack pouch to store your healthy duck treats, text
DUCKS to 70060.
For more information on the campaign visit click on
here.
