Angel Wing...ever heard of it?
This story happened on: 15/12/2014
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This disease primarily affects water fowl and very few people seem to know about it. Feeding a loaf of bread to the ducks at the local pond or lake has been a popular pastime for years but little did we know the damage that it causes. White bread is the MacDonalds of the pond world. It contains a large amount of protein and very few nutrients; it can cause obesity in birds. The deficiency in vitamins and minerals leads to deformed bones and sticking out feathers which can prevent the bird from being able to fly and therefore more vulnerable to attacks. Uneaten bread on the banks attracts rats and uneaten bread in the water can cause blue green algae (poisonous) and pollutes the lake or pond causing damage to fish. So the solution is to not stop feeding these birds but feed them the right stuff and only a small amount of it: bird seed (duck / geese / swan pellets), mixed grain or uncooked porridge oats.
We've been to two caravan sites near country parks recently (Ferry Meadows and Poolsbrook) and both had notices up requesting visitors not feed the birds bread. We read the signs further and discovered the damage that it can cause. Ella and Amy both felt quite passionate about it and created posters and wrote blogs and tweets to try inform people of the issue.
Ella's plea on facebook:
"STOP feeding ducks,swans and geese bread!!! They can get Angel Wing and it can't be cured. Angel Wing is a growth abnormality that happens when they are fed too much bread. White or brown, it is not good for them. Instead feed them swan pellets, bird food or wholegrain bread, even better you could let them eat grass and worms - their normal diet. If you see anyone feeding them bread then please tell them it could do them harm. Please spread the word to help the birds. Thank you."
Amy wrote an information poster about the issue of Angel Wing and left it in the information room at Poolsbrook so if you're visiting, keep your eyes open for it and let us know.
brue
Motorhomer