Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
The Swans
I live right next to the river and see the swan family every day from my windows. I notice that a lot of people feed them from the Pemberton Rd bridge and deduce that they are probably being fed similar amounts from the other bridges.
I am worried by the amount of white bread they seem to be getting fed, as I had heard that this is bad for swans. I remember the old man who used to take care of the birds in Finsbury Park telling me that it causes swelling in their gullets and vitamin deficiencies. I see a family feeding them whole loaves at a time on a daily basis!
I have done a bit of research and it seems that feeding outside of winter months is unhelpful and white bread is particularly harmful. If you are going to feed these beautiful birds then vegetable trimmings and salad leaves are most beneficial.
I found this guide online:
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/holyrood-and-linllithgow-bird-f...
Tags for Forum Posts: swans
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Old-Age-Emporium(OAE) on
-
I live right next to the river and see the swan family every day from my windows
In Du Coté de chez Swan(n) Marcel Proust recommends madeleines rather than white bread. Let them eat sponge cake. Madeleines are good for a swan's long term memory, apparently. Hope this helps.
-
Permalink Reply by Alisha on
-
No, they can't possibly be, or did you mean that as a joke? Madeleines are all white flour and sugar – diabetic swans!!
-
Permalink Reply by tulips on
-
You're right, white bread isn't good for swans. You can buy duck/swan food online from companies like www.birdfood.co.uk
-
Permalink Reply by Lauren on
-
I wonder, is that any better for them than veggie trimmings? One of the sites I looked at said they like potatoes and that out in the countryside they will dig up the leftovers after the potato harvest.
-
-
I had a chat with the mother of the family last week, her English is quite good. I was going to mention the bread but didn't get round to it as we started chatting about other things and I forgot. I will try to remember to mention it next time, but I do fear being viewed as a big spoilsport!
-
Permalink Reply by Justin Guest on
-
I know the family too, they are nice folks, so I doubt they will see anything you say as being a spoilsport- I will mention it to them too when I see them tonight.
-
-
It sounds as though there should be a notice on each bridge – either 'Do not feed the swans' or advice re. feeding, if the latter, preferably a simple illustrated notice. Or could you speak to the people and tell them that white bread is bad for the swans?
-
-
Please tell me you are not going to ask people to buy special swan food. It is a recession and people are struggling and going to bed hungry. People all over the western world recycle bread by feeding the ducks and swans. So far there hasn't been a huge disaster and I doubt the swans would find enough food in our river without the extra morsels.
-
Permalink Reply by John D on
-
If people have enough bread left over to feed swans, ducks and pigeons, they should take a serious look at their bread-buying habits.
-
-
And you have never had a dry crust in the bottom of a bag that you looked at before moving on to that nice, soft fresh loaf sat next to it John?
I seem to remember reading last year something like a quater of all the food we buy is wasted.
© 2024 Created by Hugh.
Powered by
