To the Editor:

There are swans with cygnets at Silvershell Beach. Along with other Marion residents and their children, I enjoy the swans and want to see the cygnets grow, thrive and be healthy. However, some people may be unwittingly damaging their health by feeding bread to them.

Bread contains no nutritional value for animals, and feeding bread to waterfowl or other wildlife stops them from eating a natural, balanced diet containing fats and protein needed for survival. So while birds may find bread tasty, there are hidden dangers. And bread offered in pieces that are too large may cause blockages in a bird’s digestive tract.

There is also a risk that swans and other water fowl could develop an illness known as angel wing, which causes a deformity in wings that hampers their ability to fly or even stop them altogether, which could be fatal.

The aim is not to discourage people from feeding the swans, but to do so responsibly and sensibly. I ask the public to swap bread, popcorn, pretzels, chips, crackers and biscuits for healthier more natural treats like oats, corn, birdseed, rice (cooked or uncooked,) grapes cut in half, lettuce or defrosted frozen peas. And exercise portion control, food left on the ground overnight may attract undesired visitors such as rats, foxes and raccoons. As I understand it, the swan family started with seven cygnets and now four cygnets remain.

Finally, I suggest placing a sign concerning the dangers of feeding bread to wildlife, and installing a vending machine with cracked corn that can be accessed for a nominal fee of perhaps 25 cents. The fee would pay for the bird feed and care of the vending machine.

I encourage everyone to protect and enjoy the swans at Silvershell.

Eileen Marum,

Marion