Please don't feed the wildlife...

[Dee]

We went to the "duck pond" known as the Baylands in Palo Alto to see how the egrets were doing. We had our lunch with us and opened our windows to get some fresh air and started eating. I saw a sign on almost every post where we were parked, no people, no families feeding the ducks... hmmm, I wondered, are they saying not to feed the ducks?

Suddenly a pigeon hopped on the hood of the car. Then another. Yuck pigeons! Then another car pulled up, and the pigeon flew off to investigate the new arrival. Then more birds appeared to investigate. When the people left their car and walked off, the birds decided to investigate our car again. This one Red-Winged Blackbird tried the driver's side of the car, hopping on the rear view mirror.

http://DeeGolden.smugmug.com/photos/145316115-L.jpg

Ed finally waved his hand as the bird made moves to come into the car.

That didn't scare off our bird though, he flew to my side of the car and tried to beg food from me...

http://DeeGolden.smugmug.com/photos/145316119-L.jpg

Looks rather intense and determined, doesn't he?

We rolled our windows up more after that, and the birds lost interest... then I went to check out the egrets and black headed night herons who were dotting the palm trees, flying in with twigs, and making the general racket they do at this time of year. Sorry, no pictures. I really need to visit much earlier in the day.

Oh, the sign? it basically said that the wildlife was getting injured fighting over food.

[Ric Grupe]

Cool! :barb

[Shasoc]

Cool shots! Good job exposing the blacks.

[bfjr]

:lol :lol

nice catch, he really looks intent on something!

[Harryb]

Nice captures and the issue of feeding the wildlife touches a sore spot with me. I will never understand the need some folks have to interact with the wildlife. I mean this is real life not some Disney cartoon. The wildlife is doing fine and doens't need any help in finding food.

I can understand if its winter and the ground is covered in snow but otherwise just leave the wildlife alone. In most cases you don't do them any favor by feeding them.

[Maestro]

That is funny! Nice captures.

[ian408]

The duck pond is where people go to get rid of their stale bread. It totally
sucks. If you head over, bypass the pond and park across the road.

[jwear]

I am sure Dee did not know she was in the bird drive thru --looks like they just wanted to place an order :thumb nice capture Dee :D

[JenGrace]

I agree with Harry about feeding wildlife. I hate hearing when people say they live around water and give manatees fresh water from hoses and how much the manatees love it. Their good intentions are teaching the manatees to approach places where they could be injured. They get all the fresh water they need from their food. Birds get so aggressive (as Dee captured so well), and so do other animals like squirrels (blech!) and gators and the list goes on.

[Dee]

everyone!

I think the problem with feeding the ducks was that the seagulls got into the act, and they can be pretty nasty and aggressive.

At another artificial pond I've seen people feed the ducks and they are much better mannered about eating the stale bread. There weren't any seagulls around.

I'm sure people are confused as to whether or not to feed birds due to all the bird food, backyard feeders and water fountains for the birds that are available.

And, by the way, ducks will eat dry cat food, as well as squirrels, skunks, cats, dogs, racoons and coyotes.

In San Francisco's Golden Gate Park Stowe Lake, some elderly gentlemen bring bread and a big stick... they feed the carp and use the stick to keep the seagulls away.

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, just what I've observed. People love to feed pigeons too -- just an observation now!

I will concur that feeding the ducks in Palo Alto has trained ducks, birds and geese to come begging for food, and that's probably not a good thing. I've also had birds land on the hood of the car in fast food places in Hawaii, so I guess they've spread the word around.

Until people are better educated about the perils of feeding wildlife, the practice will probably continue.

[Swartzy]

I don't think that blackbird was hungry...he simply knew you'd take some great shots of him to post on Dgrin :rofl

[Dee]

I don't think that blackbird was hungry...he simply knew you'd take some great shots of him to post on Dgrin :rofl

:D :D :D :D :D

Yes, he was definitely posing!