Ducks and Geese

Just like you, we love the wildlife in Westbrook and want the best for them. That's why we ask you NOT to feed the ducks or geese. Doing so can harm the animals, the environment and public health!

Overcrowding

• Natural systems have a carrying capacity for the population of a species that can be support in that environment. Feeding the ducks and geese artificially raises that number beyond what the system can support leading to:
• Increased competition for food
• Pecking injuries to bird
• Females forced to nest up to a mile from the water to avoid harassment resulting in increased risk from urban predators and vehicle collisions

Habitat Degradation

• Overcrowding leads to unhealthy amounts of feces (poop) in the water along with  high levels of fecal coliforms which can cause animal and human illness.
• High levels of phosphorus and nitrogen from feces leads to increased algae growth in the water which leads to decreased oxygen levels, foul smells green and cloudy water, fish death and generally gross water.
• Some algae produce toxins which can harm humans, wildlife and pets.
• Foraging by large bird populations can destroy lawns and gardens and cause shoreline erosion.

Disease

• Competition for poor quality food and general stress weakens the birds making them more likely to get sick and a crowded habitat causes increased disease transmission.
• Wild ducks and geese eat a varied diets of grains, grasses, aquatic plants and bugs. This is diet provides everything the ducks need. Bread, popcorn and corn are low in nutrients and result in nutritional disorders such as metabolic bone disease and angel wing.
• Bread products expand in the water and the stomach giving the birds a feeling of fullness without providing the nutrition the ducks and geese need.
• Excess food in the water causes bacteria growth and attracts scavengers such as raccoons, possums, crows and gulls.

Habituation

• Wild ducks have a healthy fear of humans and predators. That's a GOOD thing. It keeps them safe.
• Ducks and geese that are feed regularly often lost that fear making them more likely to be kills by a predator, collide with a vehicle, experience chemical exposure or to be harmed by humans.

Delayed Migration

• Feeding the bird can interfere with normal migration patterns - delaying or suspending departure and can attract migrating birds. This can lead to death in the winter cold.

Help us support or local birds by watching them but NOT feeding them!