Garden wildlife expert Sean McMenemy shares whether you should take your children to feed the ducks this summer holidays
With the summer holidays in full swing and the UK sweltering under a heatwave, more families are flocking to rivers, lakes, and ponds to cool off and enjoy the sunshine. But wildlife product expert and Ark Wildlife founder Sean McMenemy is urging visitors to appreciate ducks and other waterfowl while offering them healthy food.
Sean answers some of the most asked questions about feeding ducks, from whether bread is really bad for them to what healthy alternatives you can take to the park.
Can you feed ducks bread?
“The simple answer is yes,” says Sean. “They can eat it, and they will gobble it up. But that does not mean it is good for them. Bread has very little nutritional value, contains a lot of salt, and if consumed frequently, will result in conditions and ultimately ill health.
Sean explains that our inland waterways are well populated by ducks, swans, moorhens, coots and many other waterbirds. “Competition for food is fierce, and they really do appreciate the generosity of park visitors. Fortunately, there are plenty of healthy alternatives that are just as easy to bring along as bread but much better for the birds.”
Does bread kill ducks?
“Bread is not toxic and therefore will not directly kill ducks,” Sean says, “but it does present several hazards. If they are overfed with it, they can become malnourished and unhealthy, which, if left unchecked, can lead to death. Bread left floating in the water dissolves, polluting the water and encouraging blooms of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria. This is a direct threat to humans and animals and it destroys the natural food sources ducks depend on.”
What can you feed ducks instead?
“Quick, simple and healthy alternatives to bread are a frozen bag of peas or sweetcorn. Bite-sized morsels are both easy for kids to handle and packed with nutrition – just make sure the food is fully defrosted before feeding.”
You can also supplement their natural diet by offering foods including:
- Lettuce
- Cabbage
- Oats
- Seeds
- Chopped apple
- Wheat
- Grapes
- Bird seed
- Proprietary duck food
“Whatever you bring,” he adds, “make sure it is in small, manageable pieces so ducks can swallow it easily. That way, you can still enjoy feeding them while keeping them healthy and safe.”