Duck pond birds fed well

The ducks and geese of the George Sutter Park duck pond are kept well fed all year round, thanks to the kindness and dedication of four local bird lovers.

Geese, like ducks, are relatively easy to care for and they naturally find habitats that offer enough food, but living in the enclosed pond they depend on people to feed them.

For more than three years, Kathy and Henry Preston, Hennie and Alida Britz have been feeding their feathered friends.

“Twice a day the birds receive mealies and bread and lettuce,” says Kathy.

Although the food is mostly donated, Hennie sometimes has to buy extra mealies.

Kathy says the birds are happy and quite a few goslings and baby ducks have hatched.

She always loves their reaction when she arrives.

“They welcome me with their quacks,” she says; and while they probably react the same way to anybody who visits the pond to feed them, it makes her feel special nonetheless.

Caring for the birds has become part of the Preston and Britz couples’ lives.

They cannot imagine their days without going to the pond to feed and take care of their feathered friends.

They say the birds are tame and love attention from people.

“You can see they are healthy because once they have eaten, they go for a swim and then take a nap,” says Hennie.

They receive regular donations of mealies from local businessman Cliff Carr, as well as occasional donations from others.

Another local businessman, José Fernandes, also gives a weekly donation of bread and lettuce.

Hennie says sometimes the mealies are not enough, then he has to buy an extra bag or two, but he doesn’t mind at all.

The goslings and baby ducks feed on crushed mealies, while their parents eat whole pit mealies.

Although the birds go through almost five 50kg bags of mealies per month, the four bird lovers will to continue to care for their feathered friends as well as for the pond.

Hennie says they lost a few babies to two barbels and a bass that live in the pond, but they have managed to catch the bass and one of the barbels.

“The other barber will hopefully be removed soon, and we request that people don’t through fish in the pond,” he says.

Hennie and his gardener, Frans Masilela, also regularly clear the area around the pond of weeds and mow the lawn.

“This, in summer, is a weekly job,” he says.

Life at the duck pond has not always been sunshine and roses for their feathered friends, however.

“We had to revamp the pond to improve their habitat and to provide enough fresh water for the pond,” says Hennie.

When Edelweiss resident Jacqueline Gerber heard from someone that the birds weren’t being fed, she was immediately concerned.

“However, I am relieved to hear there are good people taking care of the birds.”

What worries Jacqueline is who will take care of the birds should the Britz and Preston couples leave Springs.

“The metro should be involved as the park belongs to them,” she says.