When people complained about people feeding the geese in Stratford Landing, H. Jay Spiegel did more than listen. He took action.
An intellectual property lawyer who lives along the creek, Spiegel experienced first-hand the damage done by geese droppings on his dock on Little Hunting Creek.
He got local community association to endorse a plan to ban feeding and contacted local officials. Last year the General Assembly passed a bill allowing local governments to prohibit waterfowl feeding. This week the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on an ordinance that would amend the County’s animal control ordinance to prohibit the feeding of Canada geese and mallard ducks in areas around Little Hunting Creek.
“I’m pleased that it passed,” Spiegel said. “I’m not glad that it’s only a pilot program and not permanent. How while they measure the effectiveness of it? If there are fewer geese and nobody is feeding does that mean it was effective?”
Spiegel is hoping that signs posted will prove to be effective. He also hopes that Earl Hodnett, Fairfax County biologist who spoke at the board meeting, will proceed with his plan to support more far-reaching legislation.
Spiegel said it was also worth mentioning that while this was originally a nuisance issue, in light of the bird flu, it could become a health issue as well.
“Look at them and love them, just don’t feed them,” he said.
MOUNT VERNON DISTRICT SUPERVISOR Gerry Hyland was pleased with the step. “When the General Assembly passed the bill giving counties authority to pass an ordinance, it gave us the ability to place restrictions on the feeding of waterfowl,” said “It’s a two-year pilot program and if it makes sense we will continue it."
Not everybody was pleased. Hyland said that he received an e-mail from a constituent who was very upset with the ruling.
Jim Davis, MVCCA environmental & recreation committee chair, said, “It [the bill] was well crafted, enabling legislation to be passed.”
When asked about the likelihood of this new law being enforced, Davis said that animal control has to catch the person in the act so he wasn’t sure.
“We don’t want to be dictatorial but when you take anything in concentration it’s not a fun thing to go through. The grass is being denuded and it’s affecting the water quality.”
Steve Chaconas lives nearby and said, “Jay listened to what the people said and saw first-hand the damage. I walk with my wife and see how many geese there are. I also see what it’s doing to the water quality.”
Chaconas said that hundreds of the creatures congregate in the area waiting for food provided by a few neighbors and one UPS man who takes his lunch break by the creek. Not only is it bad for the geese, but the scraps of food left behind also attract raccoons and other animals.
“It creates potential health hazards and gives birds a false sense of security,” Chaconas said. “People really don’t know [that it’s wrong]. It’s one thing to put birdseed out in the winter, but to feed them all year, it’s just not necessary.”