A campaign to stop bread being fed to ducks in the UK seems to be working with more feathered friends now enjoying healthier options like seeds, fruits and vegetables.
But while there has been a 20 per cent slide in the amount of bread being thrown into canals, rivers, ponds and lakes each year in England and Wales, authorities say 3.5 million loaves are still ending up in the water.
This, according to Peter Birch, national environment manager for the UK's Canal & River Trust, is bad news for ducks.
Bread causes overpopulation as birds flock to the food, uneaten bread spreads disease and attracts pests and excessive droppings reduce water quality and clog channels, he said.
Mr Birch says he's pleased with the public response to the campaign so far with many people changing their duck feeding habits, but more work needs to be done.
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"It only takes a few simple changes such as swapping bread for healthy food that is closer to a duck's natural diet - like oats, corn or peas," Mr Birch said.
Avoiding going to the same duck-feeding hotspots and controlling portion sizes would also be a big help, he said.
