This Is our Village

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Feeding the ducks and birds

I would like to know if we are allowed to feed the birds and the ducks here in Century Village. Some people say yes...others say no. I would appreciate an answer. Thank you.
Posted by at

11 comments:

  1. CathyJanuary 10, 2012 at 7:40 PM

    We really shouldn't feed any of the wild life including ducks and birds. It makes them depend on us which is not nature's way. You may think it is right but you will be doing them more harm than good. If you watch some of the birds, they dive in the lake and catch fish. They fend for themselves.

    I have lived here almost 5 years and never fed one animal. I do have to say I have been tempted because I am an animal lover.

    As far as the ducks, once you feed them they constantly come back and poop all over the place. It is not so nice stepping into a pile of poop.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lanny HoweJanuary 10, 2012 at 9:19 PM

    I think someone told me to not feed ducks bread. For some reason it is harmful. I don't see what harm would be done by having a bird feeder filled with birdseed in a sufficiently off-the-beaten-path place where you could see the birds and their poops wouldn't be underfoot. We really enjoyed our birdfeeders up north. It's different with ducks, though.

    Today two of us visited Wakodahatchee Wetlands, on Jog Road, near Boynton Beach. It's a half-hour drive. What a great display of birds, including many nesting. Great blue herons, great egrets, tri-colored herons, blue herons, anhingas, an all-black small cormorant that let you get right up to it, three roseate spoonbills, several wood storks, a pied bill grebe, moorhens, coots. Plus two alligators and soft-shell turtles. No bitterns or green herons that we saw, and no purple gallinule this time, but the marsh was teeming with activity. Weather perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  3. UCO PresidentJanuary 11, 2012 at 12:09 AM

    Hi Lanny,
    January 10, 2012 9:19 PM,

    Did you happen to see the Mozambique Purple?

    Dave Israel

    ReplyDelete
  4. GraceJanuary 11, 2012 at 9:27 AM

    As far as I know it is against the law to feed wildlife in Florida. Am I correct, Dave?

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJanuary 11, 2012 at 1:37 PM

    Hey David,
    Not one Mozambique Purple listed here: http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/Sampler.htm

    Did you dream this one up?

    ReplyDelete
  6. UCO PresidentJanuary 11, 2012 at 5:08 PM

    Hi all,
    There are laws against feeding Alligators and Sandhill Cranes.

    As for ducks, unless you have a strong affinity for large corrosive poops, I would avoid duck feeding like the plague!

    Dave Israel

    ReplyDelete
  7. GraceJanuary 12, 2012 at 10:07 AM

    Thanks Dave. I certainly was wrong!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lanny HoweJanuary 12, 2012 at 4:57 PM

    Just checked this blog again. No, we DIDN'T see a Mozambique Purple, Dave! Do you mean to say they are IN THIS AREA? This is [panting heavily from the emotional impact] great news! I will have to tell all my birding friends.

    Oh my gosh, the elusive Purple Swamp Hen of Mozambique--what a GEMSTONE find. And we have searched high and low for it! Thank you, thank you, Dave.

    ReplyDelete
  9. UCO PresidentJanuary 12, 2012 at 5:14 PM

    Hi Lanny,
    January 12, 2012 4:57 PM

    Indeed, while not indigenous to this area, the Porphyrio porphyrio madagascariensis AKA the Purple Swamphen (the correct spelling
    )of Mozambique, has been imported and may be seen at Wakodahatchee. I have personally observed this magnificent creature in a specially designed habitat.

    Dave Israel

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lanny HoweJanuary 12, 2012 at 5:35 PM

    Thank you, Dave, for your comment and for the info on the bird you sent me by e-mail. It is beautiful, colored very much like the purple gallinule. Sarcasm dripping Doubting Thomas here is bowing before you here, both arms outstretched. I would (really) love to see this bird at Wakodahatchee!

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousJanuary 13, 2012 at 5:24 AM

    Hey Dave,

    Your Purple Swamphen can be see here: http://www.avianweb.com/porphyrio.html
    Magnificient. I hope it visits our waters soon...

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)