Birdlife in our parks
Help us keep our wildlife and ecosystems healthy by allowing them to forage naturally.
Why can’t I feed the ducks?
The shortest answer: it’s not good for them or their home.
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There are many ways you can enjoy the wildlife without feeding them! Why not challenge yourself to identify as many different duck or waterbird species as you can? We’ve compiled a helpful list of resident birds – how many can you spot? |
By feeding the wildlife at our community parks you are contributing to a number of behavioural and environmental problems.
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Where easy food is abundant, birds will lay more eggs making it difficult for them to seek healthy food sources and increases the likelihood of territorial aggression. The abundance of easy food can also delay migrations. As a result, vegetation in the park is unable to regenerate.
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Providing food attracts concentrations of birds beyond what the natural ecosystem can support. Large concentrations can de-vegetate natural areas causing erosion, increase faecal matter on the ground and in water. This can also create an unsightly mess for visitors of our parks.
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Feeding birds can increase the spread of disease in three ways:
- Causing them to come in closer contact than they would normally in the wild.
- Causing increased defecation that harbors bacteria that is responsible for numerous diseases.
- Incorrect food sources like bread can cause a fatal infections.
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Food attracts unwelcome pests like mice, rats and insects. These pests harbor additional diseases that can be dangerous to the wildlife and visitors.
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When birds become accustomed to handouts, they lose their natural fear of humans and can become aggressive. As a result they have an increased chance of accidental vehicle strikes and dog attacks.