Issue of the Moment - Its Breeding Season!

Originally posted April 25, 2012, it is the reason once again for my re-start.

I re-started this blog today as I have an Issue of the Moment I'd like to call attention to.

Its breeding season for some Wildlife in our Parks.  I call it "Ling" season.  It notes the arrival of Goslings and Ducklings to the Lake areas in our Parks.   

Animal predators (Sea Gulls, Herons, Turtles, Fish, Raccoons, Foxes, Coyotes) by nature are not the only harm that can come to these tiny innocent beings.  Humans and human actions can be the cause as well.  After several years of visiting these little ones almost daily once the season begins, there is one specific action that I would like to have brought to attention.

In addition to Dogs off leash, running grounded babies back into the water, often times right into the sea gull mix, there are also Humans who try to pick them up, sometimes with intent to steal them for a pet or food.  One gal standing next to me the other night said to her friend, "I wonder what would happen if I took one?"  I said, "I would take you down, that's what would happen!"   The most common that I see is when people, mostly unknowingly feed the babies, or any of the Ducks/Birds around them.  

I contacted the San Francisco Park and Rec last season and asked it they could post signs, and use other outreach to at least try and get the word out, that this is a dangerous often fatal (for the babies) situation.  Like in all other cases, they did nothing.

The problem is when people feed in the area where the babies are, the Sea Gulls will swarm in and they are a major predator of the babies.  Too many have been snatched by them, sometimes dwindling a dozen Ducklings down to only two :(    I have alerted people while standing there, but that is basically a minute in time.  

I would like more attention to this.  If anyone reading this cares, please contact any Park outlet, the actual Park and Rec, the Commission, the Boathouse, ... by phone, email, twitter, facebook,...   Ask them to post signs at our Lakes, especcially Stow Lake where most of the breeding goes on.   Ask them use their social networking outreach to get the word out.  I'd actually like to see signs on the backs of benches near where the Ducks and Gooses bring their families ashore.

A sign that simply says "For their safety, please DO NOT FEED any Ducks, Geese, Birds, ect near the babies."

I have found for the most part people to be respective and understanding once they are aware of this.  Most people never consider the other Animals predators.  There are also the ones who could careless and continue to do whatever they want.  Yesterday a gal and her two young children were throwing bread to the Gulls right where the babies were.  I explained to them what can happen, yet they continued.  Only when I said to the mother, "Why would you continue?", did she stop.   I'm not trying to rule the roost so to speak, just trying to save some lives.  No one (I hope) wants to witness a babie get snatched and carried off.  I've heard the stories and that's horrifying enough.  Its a big Lake with tons of hungry water life, just pick another spot. 

ADD NOTE May 5, 2013

I didn't change any of what is written because it basically stands alone as is, and therefore saves me time on writing a whole new post.  Although, since the situation at present is still the same, along with some other added instances,  I plan to do a post detailing actions I've witnessed.