It's been a few years since we've had this conversation, but the time is right to address a growing problem here at Joe's Pond. From time to time over the years I've mentioned that it is a really bad idea to feed the ducks we enjoy seeing swimming by our docks. Most residents around the pond understand this, but others may be new to the very real and harsh consequences. 
     We've been alerted that there is a serious problem developing at the public beach because of people feeding the ducks and geese there. The most obvious is that when you feed the ducks there they are going to hang out on the beach which  means anyone wanting to spread a towel down, walk or play there will be dodging (if they're lucky) poop. The more birds, the worse the problem becomes and soon not only the beach is contaminated, the water is going to be and the beach will have to be closed.
     Playing in and around this kind of contamination can cause painful rashes or worse - in children and adults. 
     We've heard about one lady whose children were seen having a wonderful time chasing the ducks on the beach and in the bushes. Sounds like fun? Maybe for the kids, but surely tough on the birds, and while we want to discourage the ducks from being  on the beach, harassing them probably isn't something we should be teaching our children to do. We want children to learn to respect wildlife and we can do that best by setting a good example  - letting the ducks and geese feed on natural food, not our junk food.
     Now for the generally unseen consequences of feeding those ducks. First of all, human food is not good for them. They can no doubt survive our poor eating habits, but what they cannot survive is being fed late in the summer and fall so they don't migrate at the normal time. For them it's not just that they'll have to fly south in a smaller flock - it often results in them hanging out here until really cold weather sets in and one night they slumber peacefully floating on the water and in the morning find their feathers frozen in ice. This has happened a number of times here at Joe's Pond. We've seen the bodies of the birds that have struggled helplessly but remained trapped in the ice and died there. A tragic, senseless death that would not have happened if they had been left to forage naturally on their own and left when they should have.
     Another serious consequence is that the wild birds become too accustomed to humans and when hunting season come around, they are easy prey. Once people understand this, they will hopefully refrain from feeding the birds and encouraging them to hang out around our camps and docks for children to play with.
     I've been contacted by Deb Stressing, president of the West Danville Community Association that oversees the beach, saying that the beach is in danger of having to be closed because of e-coli caused by the abundance of geese and ducks congregating there because people feed them. There are signs asking people not to feed the wildlife, but who reads signs? 
     It may help if people who walk the rail trail remind anyone they see feeding the ducks and geese at the beach to please not do that. Or anyone else who sees someone feeding the wild ducks and geese - don't be afraid to speak up. You could be saving a kid from getting a painful rash or a duck from dying a painful death.
      This happens to be Clean Water Week in Vermont. There's no better time to try to let people know they are contributing to the pollution of our pond by feeding the birds and encouraging them to congregate at the beach or on their docks and lawns. All that poop gets washed into the water whenever it rains, and then people will be swimming in it. NOT a good thing. So watch the waterfowl swim by, but don't invite them for lunch.