Over the centuries waterfowl
have developed patterns of seeking out and feeding on highly nutritious marsh and
grassland plants. These preservation patterns are passed on to each succeeding generation. Not
all waterfowl, however, complete their migratory cycle when they are sidetracked to feed
and rest in landscaped park settings found in many urban environments (not unlike our own
Kerr and Kardon Parks!). In these settings, the birds are fed by people who unknowingly
are enticing them to delay their migration and often into becoming permanent residents.
Many urban parks / ponds can support small populations of waterfowl. However, as thousands
of waterfowl concentrate in areas because handouts are non-threatening and easily
attainable, the once wild birds can soon become tame, lose their fear of most things
people-related and pick up habits that conflict with the human population and the birds
natural pattern of migration.
Food handouts often result in large
numbers of birds competing for very limited food supplies in small concentrated areas.
Such crowding and competition for food combined with the stresses of less nutritious food
and harsh weather increases their susceptibility to life threatening diseases like avian
cholera, duck plague and avian botulism. The end result of this seemingly kind and
generous act of feeding waterfowl can be a continuing cycle of the birds becoming
nuisances and being subjected to harmful diseases. An infected bird may spread the disease
to many other birds by infecting the water supply. When the birds are scattered over a
large area this does not pose a serious problem. However, when the birds are bunched
together (just as they are in Downingtown's limited lakes area) their chances of
contracting disease increase and the result may be disastrous.
Most people enjoy and appreciate
waterfowl, such as ducks and geese, since these are majestic birds of amiable temperament.
However, the human activity of feeding the waterfowl in an attempt to nurture the birds
has detrimental environmental and ecological consequences, as seen in fouled park areas
and degraded water quality. Humans must prepare to interact with waterfowl and other
wildlife in ways that are non-interfering with their natural patterns.
