Urban geese and ducks attract public feeding that often creates welfare problems for the birds themselves, requiring evidence-based public communication about appropriate human-wildlife interactions.
The welfare of urban waterfowl is often directly harmed by the public's well-intentioned feeding. Angel wing, which renders affected birds flightless for life, is a visible and permanent welfare harm caused by nutritional imbalance during development. Habituated birds that no longer forage naturally may develop nutritional deficiencies. Overcrowding driven by artificial food concentration creates disease transmission opportunities and behavioral stress. The most welfare-positive interaction most members of the public can have with urban waterfowl is to enjoy observing them without feeding them — a behavior change that requires education rather than prohibition.