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The normal behaviour of waterfowl is to migrate southwards and westwards to their wintering areas. The Baltic isn’t frozen and the birds can still migrate towards south to open waters in search of food. Because of this it isn’t sensible to feed mallards and mute swans in cities and other settlements,  by this tempting them to stay.

Waterfowl that have been lured into staying  near humans lose a vital part of their physiological powers and instincts. The birds forgo their natural migrating instinct, become easy to catch for predators and, living in abnormally numerous and dense populations, they easily infect each other and spread contagious diseases between themselves

People mostly offer the birds white bread and cakes which is food completely alien to them and damages their digestive organs and general health, and weakens their flying power and in a  longer perspective, their reproduction in spring.

For waterfowl it is best to behave according to their natural instincts, developed during thousands of years, and, as the weather gets colder and natural food becomes scarce, to fly to water areas suitable for wintering.

 

In feeding birds man encourages exceptions in nature, unnatural behaviour and weakening of inherited natural instincts.

 

Additional information:

Tõnu Talvi, Environmental Board, Department of Nature Conservation

5016869,