Hi Caroline,

I agree, these mallards can be a pest, but then, sleeping Saw-whet Owls
metres away from a staring crowd, the Sandhill Cranes which forgot to
migrate any further, maybe even the Great Horned Owl on its exposed nest -
aren't they all conditioned to live in a sanctuary? And what about the
many raptors, Peregrines, Merlins etc. which regularly pay a visit to
Reifel? Must have something to do with all the well-fed birds there.

My non-birding friends (not-yet birding friends...) were more touched by
the Black-capped Chickadees eating from their hand than by the sight of
the Black-crowned Nightherons, even as the latter are a rarity in the
area. But maybe they will learn from the chickadees and the mallards about
those other birds which can't live on human handouts?

As the sanctuary is managed for ducks, this can lead to less favourable
conditions for other species; water levels or brush cutting are examples.

Reto Riesen
Dept. Chemistry, UBC
Vancouver, B.C.
riesenr at chem.ubc.ca

> The place is overrun with Mallards who are a real pain. It is sad that they
> let people feed the critters because they flock after you and stomp around
> your feet begging. We saw people with 2 pound coffee cans of seed and bags
> of bread. It really spoils the +ACI-wildlife+ACI- aspect of the place.
>