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Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a city park in Atlanta with my son and feed the bevy of ducks that live there. At the time, I didn’t know that it’s not good to feed ducks bread, which is what we had. I’ve since discovered that white bread and some seeds cause problems for ducks (see ducks unlimited). But…now I know. The next time I go to commune with the ducks, I’ll take the proper feed (cracked corn or wheat or chick starter from a pet store).
That issue aside, the pleasure of being outdoors, photographing some delightful creatures, and enjoying the spring air makes feeding ducks a simple, inexpensive pleasure, alone or with loved ones. Once I get the proper supplies, I plan to feed some ducks here in St. Pete, too. Most of our city parks have resident ducks. I know for sure that Lake Maggiore and Lake Vista parks both do; I think I remember seeing them on Round Lake and Mirror Lake, as well.
I’m not too sure of the distinction between wild and pet ducks, at least as it applies to ducks in parks. Park ducks seem to be in a category somewhere between wild and domesticated. Probably closer to domesticated, I would think, since they don’t seem to migrate, but live at the same lake all the time. The reason this matters is that the guidelines for what to feed wild ducks is different as opposed to the proper feed for domestic ducks. Everything I’ve read discourages feeding wild ducks anything at all.
As you can see from the photos this particular pond had several types of ducks as well as some geese. (At least, I think they’re geese. If not, please let me know.) I’m not expert enough to know the differences among the different ducks, but here’s a few websites with information on identifying different types of waterfowl:
Really, this post is only about how much fun it is to feed and photograph ducks. So, I’ll end the post on a fun note the way the Mitch Miller show used to end when I was a kid (sung to the tune of Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever:
Be kind to your fine feathered friends
For a duck may be somebody’s mother
Be kind to your friends in the swamp
Where the weather is very, very damp [pronounced to rhyme with "swamp"]
Now, you may think that this is the end…
WELL, IT IS! [abrupt cut to closing credits]
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the information on the bread. Was actually talking about feeding some ducks for an activity with a friend. Where was this?
where did u find all this awsome info
i’d like to look up some other stuff
i like ducks somuch but my husband not lile. now amn
i in thailand and i see your ducks in photo and i like to know about your ducks somuch anna
Thank you for writing. Those are wild ducks in the city park.
Be well,
Hilton