Feeding bread to the ducks? Better not!
What could be more fun than heading to a park and watching the ducks swimming in the pond? Children then also enjoy giving bread to the ducklings. But is this wise?
‘Just giving bread, and certainly white bread, to any bird is actually not wise,’ explains animal expert Chris Dusauchoit on Radio 2. Because that bread starts fermenting in the bird's stomach and it swells enormously. ‘That gives birds the impression of being satisfied, while the bread contains little nutritional value. I definitely wouldn't do it’.
It's okay to empty your tablecloth with breadcrumbs in the garden, advises Dusauchoit. Hanging an overripe piece of apple or pear in the garden is also perfect, as are all kinds of nuts and seeds. In winter, you can also think about fat balls. ‘Now it is actually still too warm for that, because they can still easily find their food themselves. The advantage is though, if you offer some food now, they know where to look once they really need it.’
(FVDV for Tagtik/Source: Radio 2/Illustration picture: Unsplash)