Waste food affecting bird health: Bird lovers

New Delhi: Birds of different species in the national capital region, that is home to over 500 avian species, are suffering because of the waste food being fed to them, as it is against their dietary habits, experts said here.

Earthen pots in which the birds are fed with water should be replaced with steel and aluminium pots

The 15th century Lodi Garden in central Delhi, one of the capital’s greenest and which has 30 different species of birds, has been battling with this problem.

“People regularly visit the garden and feed them with waste food rich with sugar and salt. This factor has been hampering the health of the birds,” Suhas Borker, founder, Green Circle of Delhi said at the India International Centre (IIC) on Wednesday evening.

The problem was highlighted during a discussion on “Saving the environmental space for birds in Delhi” organised by Green Circle of Delhi to celebrate 78 anniversary of Lodi Garden.

“The gardens are a natural habitat for the birds, otherwise they are not disturbed but due to such food being fed by the walkers the birds have been falling sick,”Jitendra Kaushik, assistant director horticulture division, Lodi Garden told.

Continued

RSPB warn: "Don't feed the ducks bread (and chips are a no-no too while we come to think of it)"

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By being fed bread the birds can develop a health condition which can prevent them from flying.

As a result, victims might be unable to seek out more nutritious natural food, and could eventually starve to death.

Bird experts are warning well-meaning families to stop throwing starchy scraps to ducks, geese and swans on park ponds, lakes and rivers in the region.

They say that it is much better to give them properly balanced food which is easy and cheap to buy.

Grahame Madge, of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said: “Feeding ducks on the park pond – or geese and swans on rivers – has become a long-established favourite pastime for many people, especially parents with young children.

“It is an excellent way for the public to have contact with birdlife and for toddlers to learn to appreciate ducks, geese and swans later in life.

“But feeding bread – or we’ve often seen chips – to birds can lead to them developing health problems.

“Food thrown into the water, but not eaten, can also cause difficulties with nutrient build-up in the water, especially in closed water like ponds and lakes.

“We don’t want to stop people from feeding ducks, geese and swans but they should consider buying properly balanced food which is available from pet shops or from vets.

Continued:  http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/rspb-warn-dont-feed-the-ducks-406631