In short:
Wildlife Victoria is reminding people not to feed bread or other human food to ducks, swans and native birds. Feeding can affect their health, natural behaviour and the waterways they rely on.
Good Intentions Can Have Bad Consequences
As spring brings more native birds and their young into parks and waterways, Victorians are being reminded that feeding them bread can do more harm than good.
Ducks, swans and other waterbirds are a common sight around local lakes and wetlands, and throwing them leftover bread may seem harmless.
However, Wildlife Victoria advises people not to feed wild birds, warning human food can cause health problems and disrupt their natural behaviour.
Bread provides little nutritional value for birds and can fill them up without providing the nutrients they would normally get from their natural diet.
Regular feeding can also encourage birds to become reliant on people rather than finding food themselves.
It can also bring large numbers of birds together in the same place, increasing the risk of disease spreading between them.
Bread Can Also Attract Vermin
The impact can extend beyond the birds themselves.
Uneaten bread left in lakes and waterways can contribute to poor water quality, encourage harmful algae and attract pest species such as rats.
People wanting to help native birds are instead encouraged to provide a suitable natural environment, including native trees, shrubs and vegetation that provide food and shelter.
With breeding season underway for many species, young birds and waterbirds are becoming increasingly visible across Victoria.
Wildlife Victoria says allowing wild birds to forage naturally is one of the best ways people can support their health and wellbeing.
