Experts Warn Against Feeding Ducks
East Aurora Advertiser
14 Sep 2006
Author Robert Lowell Goller
Photo courtesy of East Aurora Advertiser
Word has gotten out among the ducks and geese at Sinking Ponds. The more than 100 waterfowl that make their home at the wildlife sanctuary know the best place to eat: the west side of the pond at the foot of Pine Street Extension. That's where, for years, young and old alike have provided meals of bread crumbs to the grateful birds. But a group of local residents is hoping to spread the word among visitors to Sinking Ponds-and other parks and ponds-that feeding ducks and geese does the animals more harm than good.
A sign now greets visitors as they pull up to Sinking Ponds: "Bread is bad for ducks." Another notice details the potential problems. Though many people think they are helping ducks and geese by feeding them, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and other experts say the waterfowl should actually be left to fend for themselves.
"Waterfowl at artificial feeding sites are often found to suffer from poor nutrition," Jim Eckler, a fish and wildlife technician, writes on the Department of Environmental Conservation's website. "In natural settings, waterfowl seek and feed on a variety of nutritious foods, such as aquatic plants, natural grains, and invertebrates. Many of the items commonly used to feed waterfowl (bread, corn, popcorn, etc.) are low in protein and are very poor substitutes for natural foods."
Crocodile Disease could be 'Form of Pox'
ABC NEWS ONLINE
14 Sep 2006
A crocodile vet from South Africa has put forward a new theory about why thousands of Northern Territory crocodiles are dying. A disease has been decimating stocks of crocodile hatchlings since it was discovered in June. Crocodile experts have been struggling to diagnose the disease which causes the young saltwater crocodiles to suffocate.
Crocodile vet Fritz Huchzermeyer flew into Darwin to investigate and says the crocodiles could be suffering from a form of pox virus that has hit captive reptiles in South Africa. But he says until there is a firm diagnosis, the focus will have to be on preventing the disease from spreading.
"The main thing is really to jack up the hygiene," he said. Dr Huchzermeyer says it was originally thought the crocodiles were dying from chlamydia but the disease is not following the usual patterns. "Here we have conjunctivitis, no hepatitis, high mortality, no response or hardly any response to antibiotics, and this puzzled us no end," he said.
Bird Disease Significant, not Critical, in Amherst
TheAmherstRecord.com
14 Sep 2006
Jeff Shaw
West Nile Virus discovered at 21 sites to date
Bird Flu hasn’t reached North America and West Nile is far from epidemic, but Amherst residents can still take measures to prevent the spread of avian diseases. A recent report from the Amherst Highway Department shows 21 documented sites in the town where birds that contracted West Nile Virus have been found. Mark Kandel, regional wildlife manager for the Department of Environmental Conservation, said the severity of that number is difficult to gauge.
“It’s hard to know what that means besides that they do have West Nile Virus in the town,” he said. “Being a fairly well-populated town, people are more likely to come across (dead birds).” Preventing West Nile contamination completely isn’t feasible, but the town does need to address the issue, Councilman Dan Ward said. “We have to do our part on the public safety end,” he said. “Whether it be stop feeding ducks or stop feeding rats — intentionally or accidentally — we have to take that more seriously.”
A Ward resolution for a local law prohibiting feeding water fowl passed the town board unanimously Sept. 5, with a public hearing required before it can become official. Feeding ducks and geese increases the danger of spreading disease, among a number of other problems, according the resolution.
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