Following on from our 2013 article, large quantities of bread often continue to be left at the bottom of the ramp from the Triangle down to Riverside Park according to recent resident reports, which isn't good for birds or dogs and which is likely to attract rats.
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Some residents even say they're considering launching a petition to get the council to put advisory signs up, and trying to enlist the support of Friends of Riverside Park.
“I've had to stop walking my dog in the Riverside because of the excessive amount of bread as it is impossible to prevent him from eating it and then his itchy skin condition flares up,” writes Lise M on Streetlife.
The RSPB suggests that while supplementary feeding is hugely beneficial to birds at all times of year, and millions of families enjoy treating them in their gardens and while out and about, feeding birds bread can prove detrimental.
Nutrients
Val Osborne, head of wildlife enquiries at the RSPB, said: “Bread is often considered a great option but the RSPB believes that whilst not harmful, it doesn’t actually provide birds with any goodness or nutrients. It could even prove detrimental, as the birds will fill up on it and not other, more nutritious foods.
“Bread is often thrown out to the birds but it doesn’t actually contain any of the vital ingredients to provide birds with the energy they need to breed and feed, and there are many other household foods that would be much better for them.
Oats
“The RSPB is asking people to consider other alternatives like porridge oats, cake crumbs and potatoes – all easy to find household items like bread but so much more beneficial.”
A list of possible alternatives, and more information for those wishing to feed birds, is also available on this about.com page.
- The Friends of Riverside Park, who maintain the various noticeboards in the park, said they'd be happy to include advisory notices about the issue and to liaise with residents who'd be willing to create them, so we've endeavoured to put residents and Friends group in touch with each other.