On feeding birds in winter

The Miory District Inspectorate of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection urges citizens to refrain from feeding swans, ducks, gulls, and other birds in urban reservoirs and rivers.

Despite good intentions, feeding birds bread and other human food causes them irreparable harm:
1. Dangerous diet! Bread, white bread, and other baked goods are not a usual natural food for birds, leading to digestive disorders, obesity, and ultimately a reduced lifespan.
2. Loss of instincts! Birds accustomed to easily accessible food stop foraging for themselves, which weakens their health and makes them dependent on humans.
3. Water pollution! Uneaten food scraps spoil in the water, causing decay and algal blooms, which, combined with natural factors, reduce oxygen content and lead to the death of fish and other aquatic organisms.
4. Migration disruption! Fed birds stop flying to warmer climates for wintering and remain in urban reservoirs. As a result, unprepared birds often suffer injuries and trauma, and this can also lead to death due to cold or lack of food.

As soon as frost covers the reservoir, citizens begin to worry and believe that it is necessary to break the ice and ensure that the birds have an unfrozen area. However, one should not interfere with natural processes. The bird itself understands that the water is freezing and will find another suitable place for wintering.
In addition, some citizens become concerned when a swan flaps its wings but does not take off. However, flapping wings does not always mean the bird is about to take off. Swans simply stretch their wings this way. They can take off equally successfully from water or from ice; the takeoff run is not important for the bird.