Manito ducks find new homes

The flock of ducks that inhabit Manito Park’s duck pond has been thinned by about 40 birds in an effort to reduce the number of waterfowl that have been fouling the pond over the years.

Parks staff, with the help of specialists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, rounded up the domestic and non-wild ducks last week as part of a duck adoption program.

One couple from Worley, Idaho, loaded more than dozen ducks into a cage in the back of their pickup and drove them to their farm, which has a pond. The farm has been an attraction for senior citizen groups in recent years.

Ginny Barrett, a park worker who had taken care of the ducks over the years, said she hopes the ducks will be safer on private ponds at their new adopted homes. Manito’s fowl, particularly a group of swans that used to live at the park, have been attacked over the years by parkgoers and dogs.

Now, city officials plan to post signs asking the public to stop feeding the ducks. The signs are expected to go up in March. Parks staff will not seek to enforce the no-feeding request, said Steve Nittolo, park supervisor.

He wants to encourage park users to allow the ducks to feed on natural food sources only, which should cause the wild birds to stop crowding into the duck pond for human food.

Reducing the number of ducks at the pond should improve water quality, which has been fouled by duck waste and food. Parks officials want to consider ways to improve the habitat with more natural areas around the pond and a recirculating stream to add oxygen to the water.