PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE DUCKS!

...or....HOW NOT TO FEED THE DUCKS!

We have all seen those signs on our travels that say, “Please Do Not Feed the Wildlife”.

Why should we not feed them? What could it hurt?? Yellowstone and it’s Bears? Certainly not...but birds, too? Yes, I know, it’s hard to ignore those cute park birds…..especially ducks and geese, right? A seemingly harmless and benevolent activity, right?

I say, "Leave those bread crumbs at home!" It could cost you dearly.

Here’s a photo account of what happened recently to some nice folks in a normally peaceful southern California county park.



Ahh…Behold! Tranquility within your large-city limits…shady trees, manicured lawns, lovely pond full of waterfowl.

And THEN the ducks and geese started to ....MOVE!




Hordes of them, wwimming towards shore, intent on..what?

Up onto the shore in growing numbers….


Soon their numbers covered the ground..and still on they came. You could hear a faint clacking of bills ...and some weird hissing.

As I watched from afar in frozen horror....but with camera at the ready ...Thousands of them closed in on this mother and child who had...YES!...who had backpacks full of bread crumbs!!






There was a rush of loud quacking, flapping, ripping, and munching noises...that went on for several minutes.....then an eerie silence.

I looked for the mom and son breadcrumbers…. but all that was left in that spot were ducks and geese, burping and preening their feathers.




SO I WILL ADVISE YOU AGAIN... WITH FAIR WARNING.

PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE DUCKS!....unless you’ve got a 12 gauge.





DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!!

Feeding the ducks AKA baiting the ducks is illegal.

Here is my take on ducks:




Then the ducks show up:

Few ducks, mainly coots in the pictures.

I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN...

WE USED TO FEED THE DUCKS....With my kids at the local duck pond in Lake Forest. They certainly could get aggressive...especially the BIG Geese! They would really give the kids a scare sometimes.....getting a little TOO QUACKY....a little TOO CLOSE...and a little TOO SNIPPY as they grabbed at the bread!

Other times...the sheer number of them would overwhelm and scare the kids!


Miguelamo

AND SPEAKING OF FEEDING THE BIRDS....


I was in London years ago with a buddy on a combination business and pleasure trip. He was from there and took me into London sightseeing.

WELL...we ended up at Trafalgar Square where there are hundreds and hundreds of pigeons. He bought and gave me a bag of Pigeon feed and proceeded to laugh his ass off as the hordes descended on me. They were landing on my head and flapping all around me. It was NOT scary but was certainly overwhelming!!!


Miguelamo YES YES

Quote:

Originally posted by vandenberg Few ducks, mainly coots in the pictures.

x2

(And a few geese)

But, if it looks like a duck ......


(Pomp knows the difference, just going with the flow!)

[Edited on 2-1-2013 by RnR]

QUACK! - QUACK!



Good Morning Nomads. We're just finishing breakfast here..




About those numerous....COOTS...in my photos..

Most of these birds shown below are Coots...the small, black ones with the white beaks.








First, neither Coots nor ducks eat humans...Really....

...well, maybe in a case of self-defense...and with a little wild rice.






Second, some info on the wateborne American Coot...this fellow is living proof that not everything that floats is a duck. Next time you're at the local park pond, take a good look at one and you'll see a small head, scrawny legs...something only a mother could love...or maybe looked like your prom date? Just kidding!...

Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal.

Here's a photo of some Sandies. (we knicknamed them 'Doves on Steroids'..in keeping with today's sport stars.)



The Relatives: A Sandy and Those elusive Rails.




..and for shari....some plump, lip-smacking...Brant Geese.




As any hungry hunter knows, these are highly prized table fare because, like the legendary Canvasback, the Brant feeds mostly on wild celery and eelgrass. That diet makes them Quite yummy for anyone's palate. By the way, I travel with Brant recipes....Got Milk?

Duck fat is just too good...spuds, veggies, bread...just not for every day. We've had both wild & domesticated ducks at home since forever. Being a pack rat at heart, I still have some fat tubs at my ND Duk Shak... from the Fifties. Who wants to make a bid on this collectable vintage fat? Note: Costco sells a package of four 12-ounce tubs for $32.99.

I would trade for your proven and edible recipe for ....ugh...coot. No plank and brandy recipes, please...been there, done that.


Help Feed These Teens!

Coot recipe? Cut 'em up and use 'em for bait.