World Wildlife Day (March 3, 2023) is a great opportunity to remind visitors to Centennial Parklands of the importance of protecting our local wildlife. The park offers a variety of habitats for native birds and animals, including the Centennial Park duck pond, the paperbark grove, and remnant bushland. However, it's important to resist the temptation to feed the wildlife, as it can lead to a range of problems.
Do you like to feed birds at Centennial Parklands?
Many people enjoy feeding the birds but there are some good reasons why we shouldn’t feed any of the wildlife in the Parklands:
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It upsets the delicate ecological balance and can cause overpopulation of some bird species.
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Hand feeding can make birds aggressive, creating a nuisance for park visitors.
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When animals become dependent on human food, their natural foraging behaviours stop, and they become scavengers.
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Human food can be harmful to animals, causing poor nutrition, susceptibility to disease, and other health problems.
Sharing is not always caring – if you love our wildlife, please don't feed the animals!
All the animals in the park are wild and not pets. Importantly, please do not feed the animal’s bread. White bread has limited nutrients, but birds and other animals will feast on this easy meal, ignoring their natural food sources. This can then lead to an imbalance in the ecological food chain and water pollution in the ponds.
How you can help to protect the wildlife
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Keep dogs on leads within Grand Drive and within 10m of all ponds.
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Keep pets indoors after sunset to prevent them from inadvertently entering the park.
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Drive at a maximum of 30 km/h and take extra care just before sunset when many of the animals are active.
- Collect rubbish to ensure it does not become entangled in wings, legs, ponds, shrubs, or nests.
It’s so important to remember that feeding the animals in Centennial Parklands can have negative consequences. By taking steps to protect the animals and their natural habitat, visitors can help maintain the delicate ecological balance and ensure that the park remains a beautiful natural environment for all to enjoy.
For more information about keeping the wildlife in Centennial Parklands wild, please visit: