Why it's time to bin the bread when you feed the ducks
Ducks are going quackers for new healthy snacks in the West Midlands, which are leaving them healthier and living in cleaner homes.
It comes as members of the public followed advice from experts which urged them to leave the bread at home and treat their feathered friends to foot like seeds and vegetables which are more akin to a duck's natural diet.
The Canal & River Trust, the charity which cares for more than 2,000 miles of waterways in England and Wales, made the call last spring and has now released data which shows a 10% drop in the number of people feeding ducks bread in the West Midlands – down from 64% to 54%.
Despite the positive changes however and the overwhelming public response over the last 12 months, there's still work to be done as 3.5 million loaves of bread are still being thrown into canals, rivers, ponds and lakes every year and potentially polluting the environment.
Today, ahead of the official start of spring and at a time when thousands of new ducklings are due to hatch on its waterways, the Canal & River Trust is calling on people to continue their good work and spread the word even further.
Paul Wilkinson, senior ecologist for the Canal & River Trust, said: "We're really pleased with the public response to our campaign so far and the way people in the West Midlands are changing their duck feeding habits. However there's still work to be done and still too much bread is being dumped in the waterways. We need more people to get the word out and encourage everyone to feed the ducks sensibly.
"It only takes a few simple changes such as swapping bread for healthy food that is closer to a duck's natural diet – like oats, corn or peas. If everyone avoids going to the same duck-feeding hotspots and exercises portion control that would also make a big difference."
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.
The Trust's waterways host hundreds of thousands of ducks and other waterfowl and the charity takes its responsibility of keeping their homes safe very seriously.
It wants the millions of people who enjoy the much loved family tradition of feeding the ducks to be able to enjoy it for generations to come.
The charity is giving away a free booklet packed with tips on the right food to feed the ducks which includes lots of activities for children.
