Local fireworks costing our wildlife in Fountain Hills
OPINION — As a frequent visitor to the park who knows and loves our resident, year-round waterfowl, I deeply worry about the effects of the annual Fourth of July fireworks display.
Every year on the morning of July 5, I find myself at the park early to check on them. For those who may not know, our lake is home to a small community of domestic ducks. They do not migrate because they can’t; they are abandoned pets and farm ducks dumped at the lake. With only one exception, these birds lack wings strong enough to carry them away, leaving them entirely at the mercy of their environment.
This year on July 5, the aftermath was glaring. Betty White, our resident Egyptian goose — the only bird capable of flight, yet who chooses to stay — was highly agitated, incessantly dunking in the water and preening. Nearby, a large "raft" of ashes, cardboard casings and chemical debris floated in the lagoon where the ducks spend their mornings.
Later that day, I noticed one of the male Rouen ducks was lethargic, uncharacteristically messy, and trying to hide under a bush. While his condition seemed to slightly improve over the next three days, he never fully recovered. Now, he has disappeared.
I believe there is a strong chance he was poisoned by the toxic debris left in the water. This duck was one of "The Three Musketeers," triplets that lost their first brother a couple of years ago. Now, only one remains.
This loss feels entirely preventable. As we look to the future, perhaps it is time to transition our next Independence Day celebration into a modern, eco-friendly drone display.
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