09-21-20 BWhite Waterfowl public commentTo: Mayor and City Council of Kalispell
Regarding: Feeding of Waterfowl at Woodland Park
From: Bert Allan White
623 Rock Dr.
Kalispell, Mt 59901
I am one of the many people who feed ducks and geese at Woodland Park.
My wife and I have fed them in winter for several years, especially when the
weather and temperatures are brutal. We feed them a 50/50 mixture of cracked
corn and wild bird feed which cost us about $100 a month.
We have often wondered ourselves, why these birds don't fly south for the
winter. A little research revealed that these are domestic geese that have been
dropped off and multiplied. There are also many ducks that stay through the
winter. I suspect that these are ducks that are no longer able to make the
journey. Some are obviously injured.
Regardless of the reasons they stay at Woodland Park through the winter is
not our concern. The fact is, many of these creatures would have frozen or
starved to death. This is unacceptable to me. No matter what the parks and
recreation people think, there will be those waterfowl that stay the winter.
Please, do not let these helpless creatures starve.
There should be an ordinance which prohibits feeding these birds bread
and all types of human food! Also there should be punishment for parents who
let their children kick and hit the waterfowl with rocks and sticks!
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