‘It’s my therapy’: Woman defies Niagara Parks ban on feeding wildlife

Sandra Mac Kinnon holds her hand out and a Canada goose walks up to her without any fear, gently taking the seeds she's holding in its beak.

Within minutes, dozens of the big birds emerge from the water at Dufferin Islands and waddle over to surround the bench she's sitting on, wanting in on the buffet action.

It's a scene that plays out three to four times a week, when Mac Kinnon makes her way to the idyllic setting adjacent to the Niagara River in Niagara Falls to spend time with her avian friends that this day also include a male mallard duck and a red-winged blackbird.

It's my therapy," she said. It's my gem: I love the nature. I think it's beautiful."

A constant is the little pouch she brings, containing a bag of wild bird seed and another one with cut corn she buys from Minor Bros. in Fonthill.

Mac Kinnon knows that feeding the birds is now something she's not supposed to be doing: the Niagara Parks announced in May that it was installing signs at some of its properties to remind people that feeding wildlife is not allowed.

The Crown agency said what appears to be a seemingly harmless act is anything but.

Though well-intended, wildlife feeding can lead to unusual or aggressive behaviour, overcrowding and the transmission of disease, growth disorders, malnutrition ...(and) an increase in rodents and other pests," the Parks said.

The Parks said it will try to get people to obey the prohibition with a gentle hand at first, through education: staff "ambassadors" started mingling with visitors at Dufferin Islands on the Victoria Day long weekend, reminding people of the risks of feeding wildlife and that it's not allowed.

But the Crown agency said it's willing to lay fines if need be under the Trespass to Property Act against people who won't play by the rules.

Mac Kinnon said she's willing to pay any penalty it takes to continue to feed her birds.

A woman walked by and said I could go to jail," she said. (But) there's something special about feeding the animals, them eating out of your hand. It's peace and serenity."

Mac Kinnon, who ran for mayor of Niagara Falls in the municipal election, said her family including her grandchildren live in Alberta, so heading to Dufferin Islands to feed the birds makes her feel connected.

For me it's like family, interacting with the birds," she said. You don't feel alone."

Mac Kinnon conceded when she first started to visit the birds, she was feeding them too much. Now she only gives them small amounts.

I don't want them to be dependent on me," she said. They have to forage themselves and if I'm feeding them too much they're not going to do it. If you're giving the right food in moderation, that's different."

The Parks said any wildlife feeding is bad, noting that for birds it can even lead to delayed or failed migration, leading to winter death.

Mac Kinnon, who noted people sometimes feed animals in the area of the parkland that has barbecues anyway, said the Parks would do better to concentrate on ensuring people aren't speeding in cars and injuring animals in the parkland setting.

This is supposed to be a peaceful area," she said. Niagara Falls is starting to be a concrete jungle. Animals are losing their habitat and it's extremely important to protect it."