"Mum, Dad, can we go and give the ducks some bread?
This phrase is regularly heard among small children. It's hard to prove them wrong! Who hasn't admired the ballet of Laughing Gulls, Mallards and Goosander fighting for a crust of bread? Behind this poetic aspect lie two problems. The first is linked to the domestication of wild birds. Although these birds live in an urban environment, they are wild. They are capable of feeding themselves. Aquatic plants and small invertebrates for the Mallard, and fish for the Common Merganser and Black-headed Gull, represent the natural diet of these species. Getting waterbirds used to not feeding according to their habits makes them dependent on an artificial food source. As a result, the birds lose their ability to search for food. The other problem with bread is directly linked to the health of the birds (and animals). The salt and yeast present in bread are not found in the natural diet of these species. In the same way that we cannot eat grasses (like ruminants), birds' digestive systems are not adapted to assimilate bread. What's more, the nutritional value of white bread is very low. It will fill the stomach, but will not provide the nutrients vital to the survival of the birds. Feeding will also cause large numbers of birds to congregate in small areas, which may encourage the development and transmission of disease.
However, these feeding moments remain moments of wonder for young and old alike. To make the most of these special moments, there are alternatives to bread. For example, leftover salad greens, wheat or cooked maize can be fed without affecting the birds' metabolism. It is also advisable not to feed them all year round. You could, for example, give preference to periods of extreme cold. What's more, swans, ducks and gulls can easily be found near riverbanks in urban environments. So you can easily go and observe them without feeding them. This will give you an opportunity to discover their behaviour and feeding habits.
