Ostend (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ostend placed new signs in Leopoldpark and Maria-Hendrikapark (+ Bosje) to stop bread feeding to waterfowl. Alderman Fabrice Goffin warns it harms birds and attracts rats.
The city of Ostend has placed new signs to warn people about not giving old bread to the waterfowl in Leopoldpark and Maria-Hendrikapark in Ostend, known locally as ‘+ Bosje’. The increase in visitors often leads to more people feeding the ducks and swans with bread that is harmful to the animals.
According to Alderman Fabrice Goffin (Vooruit Plus), the well-meaning habit of tossing bread into the water is having a detrimental effect. When birds consume bread, especially in large quantities, it forms a sticky, heavy mixture in their stomachs when combined with water. This substance, sometimes referred to as slurry, is difficult for them to digest.
He said that the birds are satisfied but get hardly any nutritional value, which deters them from foraging for their natural food such as aquatic vegetation and insects. Eventually, this results in malnutrition and weakening, making them float lifelessly to the shore of the water and, in most instances, fall seriously ill or even die.
Why is Ostend asking visitors to stop feeding the birds?
Feeding ducks and swans bread can cause problems beyond just harming the birds. Leftover food attracts rats, which can cause health problems for people and animals. The rotting food also pollutes the water, making it harder for other animals to live there. The city is asking people to enjoy the parks without feeding the animals so that the environment can stay healthy.
Most people feed bread to ducks and swans because they have no idea it hurts them. Alderman Fabrice Goffin used to do it when he was a kid. He mentioned that feeding birds in the park appears to be a friendly thing to do, particularly for families. Goffin believes people should be taught the ill effects of bird feeding so they can make a change. He believes the way to change people is through education.
The city of Ostend is trying to stop people from feeding ducks and swans without punishing them. Instead of giving fines, they will put up signs in the parks explaining why it’s bad. They also want people to talk to each other about it.
Goffin encourages people to kindly tell others if they see them feeding ducks or swans. This way, everyone can help protect the animals. Ostend hopes to make the parks a better place for both people and animals.
“We also call on people to raise awareness among themselves. If you see someone feeding the swans, kindly tell them that this is not a good idea,”
Fabrice Goffin said.
