Three ducks went for a dip,
their bottoms in the air.
I wonder what they found
in the muddy water there.
Did they catch some insects,
or maybe juicy seeds?
I hope it wasn’t bread —
that’s not what a duck’s diet needs!
Photo by Philip Webster
Teacher’s note: Everyone loves feeding the ducks with bread, but too much isn’t good for them! A duck’s natural diet includes aquatic plants and seeds, insects, worms and slugs, snails, small fish and frogs.
This is a beautiful poem which gently conveys an important message. Live prey is vital for calcium in chicks. This ensures that chicks of all species develop strong bones and beaks. Heavy reliance on food sources that lack essential nutrition can have tragic consequences.
Edwina Smith.