Girl Scouts urge Cane Creek Park visitors to choose healthy options when feeding ducks, geese
COOKEVILLE – Cane Creek Park’s waterfowl love the people who visit them – and the treats they bring.
But these wild ducks and geese don’t know that some of those treats are bad for them. Neither do those who take joy in watching them waddle up the lake bank for bits of bread and crackers.
A couple of Girl Scouts hope to change that with a new educational sign that was installed last week near the duck feeding area.
“A lot of people are feeding them bread, which is unhealthy for them,” said Lindsea Grissom, who, along with Alison York, earned a Bronze Award for the project.
The sign, which reads, “Help us protect the ducks and geese,” features photos and information about of some of waterfowl commonly seen at Cane Creek Park, including mallard and Muscovy ducks and Canada, swan and greylag geese.
The purpose is to encourage people to choose healthier options when feeding the birds, such as corn, duck pellets, lettuce and other greens, peas, oats, seeds, chopped grapes, rice and milo.
“It’s important because it’s going to help our ducks,” York said. “It’ll help them eat healthier, which will make them live longer and want to entertain people.”
Grissom and York are both in sixth grade at Upperman Middle School and members of Girl Scout Troop 128. The project took them 21 hours to complete with assistance from Dan Combs, Tennessee Tech University biology professor, and Rick Woods, City of Cookeville Department of Leisure Services director. The sign was donated by Wrap World 2.
The girls learned that bread provides no nutritional value for their feathered friends. Instead, it makes the birds feel full, taking the place of their natural balanced diet and causing a range of health problems.
The sign also includes a reminder for park visitors to properly dispose of fishing line and trash when leaving the duck feeding area.
Cane Creek Pak, located at 201 C C Camp Road, features a 56-acre lake that is ideal for observing birds, turtles and other wildlife. For more information about the park, call 931-520-4386.
Photo cutline:
Alison York, left, and Lindsea Grissom of Girl Scout Troop 128 stand by a sign that was installed Sept. 27 at Cane Creek Park. The sign, a project they completed to earn their Bronze Award, offers healthy options for feeding the ducks and geese at the park