The River Nairn Swans and Waterfowl Trust consider this to be a very good suggestion. Maybe we could get our local councillors to get some signs fixed around Merryton Bridge? The trust has asked our 4 councillors before about getting a few signs around the riverside with no success as yet. Personally I would make a few adjustments to this sign, but in the Main it is sound advice.
Hello Joe, fantastic news about Duke! I have seen that poster about feeding waterfowl doing the rounds on facebook. When I asked our local council, St Helens, they said they would not be interested in putting up signs like this on our disused canal. I have permission, however, to make paper laminated signs which I can put up myself to educate the canal users. I am interested in what alterations you would make to the poster, before I finalise my draft, which is as follows:
ReplyDeleteBREAD HARMS ALL WATERFOWL
PLEASE DO NOT FEED ANY BREAD TO OUR DUCKS, GEESE, SWANS
*It's junk food for birds
*It fills us up but has no nutritional value
*It makes us sick and can cause deformities
THROWING BREAD INTO THE CANAL ENCOURAGES BACTERIA AND ALGAE TO GROW WHICH ARE HARMFUL TO BIRDS, FISH, OTHER WILDLIFE AND WATER QUALITY
MOULDY BREAD & BREAD PRODUCTS INTRODUCE DISEASES, BACTERIAL ILLNESSES AND EVEN DEATH
PLEASE FEED US NATURAL FOODS WHICH WILL KEEP US STRONG & HEALTHY
CORN, OATS, BIRD MIX, BROWN RICE, PEA SHOOTS, CABBAGE, BROCCOLI, SHREDDED SPINACH, SHREDDED LETTUCE, DEFROSTED PEAS AND SWEETCORN
Thank you from Vulcan and Venus, our resident swans
I would appreciate your comments. Thank you so much. Wendy Grocott-Jones
PS the cygnet who was cured of angel wing, Gabrielle, has returned to one stretch of our canal, whilst her parents are on the nest at the other end of the canal, Venus has laid 3 eggs so far!
Hi Wendy, You are certainly pointing out all the downsides to throwing bread in the canal.Perhaps you could make it less wordy in places, might have more impact.
ReplyDeleteLike, "mouldy stale bread is poisonous to water birds ".
"It is junk food and has no nutritional value"
"Throwing bread into the canal causes serious algae and bacterial pollution and damages the environment"
Just a few suggestions but I think you have got it pretty well covered.
Your Swans are laying eggs early but that's great , gives them a good long start when they hatch. Good news about Gabrielle too.
I would not mention the grapes on that poster, our situation is different because we have a shallow fast flowing river which is also tidal part of the day. Ponds and canals are more contained and more prone to pollution from things like bread and uneaten grain feed etc.
Penny has been gone all day today, hope she doesn't come back with a new mate before Duke gets back !!