Belligerent birds are bothering Fla. park visitors

Rick Neale | USA TODAY

MELBOURNE, Fla. — Belligerent birds are chasing humans and tying up traffic across idyllic Wells Park, ruffling feathers inside City Hall.

Dozens of quacking ducks, geese, ibis, squawking seagulls and other fowl flock to this 30-acre recreation area's twin lakes. Melbourne officials warn that these winged creatures are losing their fear of people — and bird-vs.-human conflicts along the shorelines are on the rise.

City Manager Mike McNees described a harrowing escape.

"Jogging through there by the fire station a couple days ago, three very attractive white geese went after me like it was D-Day," McNees recounted to the Melbourne City Council earlier this week.

"I'm not a little guy, and I had a lot of trouble scaring them off. For someone that might be a little less mobile, a little more intimidated, or a child that really can't fight back, it's a real problem," McNees said.

"People love to feed the ducks — but we just have to do something," he said.

Monday, Melbourne park workers installed red-lettered "Feeding Wildlife Prohibited" signs.

"I know that there's some people that will continue to do this regardless, because they've been doing this for years. A lot of them are elderly," said Steve Graham, parks manager.

Wells Park borders the Melbourne Library, Melbourne Auditorium, Liberty Bell Memorial Museum, Melbourne Military Memorial Park and Fire Station 74.

The scenic grounds feature a fountain, walking path, pavilion and numerous benches frequented by wildlife feeders.

"The duck/goose/bird/various-flying-thing population over there has gotten enormous — and aggressive. They're a problem at the fire station. They're a problem in the park," McNees said.

"We have some folks who love feeding them, but the wildlife experts certainly recommend that they not be fed," he said.

However, Lynda Storer believes the city's feeding crackdown is birdbrained. She lives a block and a half from Wells Park, and she observes the resident waterfowl during her morning walks.

"No bird over there is aggressive, other than the geese. As far as the other birds go — as far as the Aflac-looking ducks and the other birds are concerned — none of them are aggressive," Storer said.

"Go around the geese. Don't interact with the geese," she said.

Storer would like to see park employees install birdseed vending machines for families and children.

"I've walked around that park every day for a year and a half. Have I had geese bite me? No. Have I had geese approach me? Yes. So I just move away," Storer said.

Orange temporary fencing has been erected to protect unsuspecting pedestrians from a goose nest near the fire department.

Geese have been spotted waddling amid traffic on Hickory Street and blocking the driveways of the fire station, said Cheryl Mall, city spokeswoman.

Neale also reports for Florida Today.