The Swans versus the Food Bank?

[PassingStranger]

A well known supermarket used to donate their leftover bread in our area for the volunteers to feed the swans with.
We have a team of volunteers who look after the swans.

They stopped donating the bread and said it had to go to the foodbank.

What do you think?

Our local park had signs up years ago saying not to feed the ducks and swans bread. But then they weren't getting enough food so they that all stopped and we were told we could feed them again.

I agree with PPs theyre not a priority. Maybe start a go fund me to post on local FB pages and raise money to feed them? Then if there is enough interest you could get some proper swan food?

A statement was issued by the RSPB or whoever saying that you must not under any circumstances feed bread to waterfowl.
People took it on board and stopped.
Then all the ducks, geese and swans were dying from hunger. So the advice was reversed. The town i live in has a long stretch of canal snaking through it, along with 2 rivers and a couple of lakes. The waterfowl on these bodies of water are well fed by local people and are healthy and they breed every year, so eating bread doesnt seem to harm them 😉

Swans WON'T survive on regularly donated bread! This is insane - of course the bread should be used for people who need it not swans who will be harmed by it! It isn't that bad if the swans are fed it occasionally, but regularly large amounts is. It's like children - feeding them chocolate is fine, feeding them chocolate for every meal would not be.

Hungry humans > Hungry swans

Speak to the food bank and see if they have any suitable out of date bread or food they'd like to donate to the swans that they can't give to humans?

I also forgot the Queen was dead, so they're owned by the King now.

I didn't think food banks took perishables like bread.
Community fridges/pantries take it, but they get inundated with bread too. No one wants a loaf that will have blue bits on in a couple of days.

I initially thought this was going to be about Swansea City FC.

Bread is not good for waterfowl.

OP would you genuinely prefer to see starving people than starving swans?

Just as a thought experiment.

I think I saw this documentary! I think the most fascinating bit was how they managed to maintain perfect hair and makeup whilst being attacked. Very impressive. I also seem to remember a bit about a phone booth. I have included a photo of a dramatic re-interpretation of that part, as an original documentary photo might be too graphic for anyone who hates birds, or phone booths for that matter. Not sure the equivalent that you’d hide in now - maybe a cafe wirh WiFi? Just doesn’t have the same telephone ring to it.

Bread is bad for swans.

Unfortunately, bread isn't good for any water fowl. It causes huge problems with their wings making them unable to fly... And more susceptible to predators!
Better the bread goes to humans (the bread may not be nutritionally good for them, either, though).
Feeding swans/ducks, better to get the actual feed they need, easily available from rspb and other sites, not to mention the ubiquitous amazon!
You aren't being unreasonable, just it's not good for the birds. Sorry

Is this a joke people over swans any day

While I think i prefer swans to the majority of people. Leftover bread should go to humans. Put a post on your local fb pages asking for donations of seeds, veg, seeded bread etc. You will be surprised

It’s bad for humans too

Near where I live is a pond frequented by swans. There are notices NOT to feed them unless with pellets. So yes the bread should go to a food bank. HTH!

Vast amounts of bread isn't good for the swans i feed swans daily with peas corn lettuce and feed for then some bread is ok like the seaded bread but white bread just causes lots of algae in the water and this then causes bacteria that they then feed on and get sick we then have to rescue them so yes I think bread being given to food bank is a good idea if you want to feed the swans get seeded bread im sure if people speak to there supermarkets they will keep a loaf or 2 back if any left at the end of the day for you maybe ask if there is any lettuce or corn to respecting our wildfoul isn't a problem its knowing what is good for them research there needs , thank you for caring

Is there an issue with wild swans starving to death? I've never heard of it. Like all wild animals they're pretty good at finding what they need for themselves. And if people want to feed them, Pets At Home has big bags of wildfowl food for a fiver.

I have not seen a river or lake in England that did not have an abundant weed growth which is the natural food for Water Fowl. So why feed?

There are swans living on a pond in a field near my house. It would be difficult for anyone to get near them to feed them as the pond is completely surrounded by very marshy ground and huge reeds. There have been swans living happily there for decades in summer and winter.

Don't all swans technically belong to the king? Maybe he should start feeding them 😂

People first, swans second.

I used to live in Stratford Upon Avon where the swans would give you the filthiest look if you dared to offer them something as pleby as bread 😂

Feeding swans with bread can cause angel wing in developing cygnets. This leaves them unable to fly and at risk from predators. Often they need rescue organisational to take them in. There's no justification for feeding swans copious amounts of bread.

The self righteous tone of your posts "we are saving the swans" shit Is appalling. No you arent you are interfeering to make yourselves feel good. Swans live off the greenery in thier river/lake, they don't need bread!

I think u need to get outside more! U think feeding swans is more important than hungry children! I bet you have a bunch of cats at home!!