Man organizes nonprofit to benefit Fairbanks' winter ducks
Published Monday, November 17, 2008
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FAIRBANKS — The ducks hear Marv Hassebroek before they see him. They begin quacking when the sound of his green GMC Suburban reaches them on the snow behind the
Carlson Center.
The chatter intensifies as Hassebroek gets out, opens the back door of the Suburban and grabs two red, 5-gallon buckets filled with barley, corn
and grain.
It’s feeding time.
Lugging a bucket in each hand, the lanky 72-year-old Hassebroek, wearing cowboy boots, blue jeans,
a light down coat, a Ducks Unlimited ball cap and leather gloves, makes his way down a short, well-beaten path in the snow leading to the Chena River, followed by his wife, Becky.
As soon as the ducks spot Hassebroek on the riverbank, they begin pouring out of the open water — caused by warm discharge from the nearby power plant — and climb onto a straw-covered ice shelf along the river, waddling and quacking as they chase after Hassebroek.
“I don’t like ’em to stand in the snow, so I give them a little straw,” Hassebroek said over his shoulder, explaining the bed of straw on the ice. “It’s not too expensive, and they like it.”
The mass of ducks, moving almost as one waddling unit, follows Hassebroek as he walks along the ice shelf with the buckets.
Growing population
There are hundreds of them, all mallards.
They swarm in front of Hassebroek, quacking with anticipation before he begins pouring feed from one of the pails onto the straw-covered snow.
“It’s 20 above, you guys,” Hassebroek says in a cheery voice, talking to the ducks as if they were children. “Do you guys know that it’s 20 above?”
As Hassebroek goes about spreading three pails of food on the straw-covered snow, the mob of quacking ducks follows him as if he were the Pied Piper, but dive into the food as soon as it hits the straw and snow.
“I mix the grain in the straw and make them work for it,” Hassebroek says, emptying the last pail of food.
The ducks frantically sift through the straw with their yellow bills, gobbling up any food they can find.
“In about 10 or 15 minutes it’s gone,” Hassebroek says. “When it gets cold, I feed them four buckets a day instead of three.”
It’s a routine Hassebroek repeats every day during winter in an effort to help what has been a growing number of ducks that overwinter in the open section of the Chena River between the Aurora Energy Power Plant and Pioneer Park. Last year, Hassebroek estimates he fed upward of 400 ducks on a daily basis, and the number looks to be about the same this year.
“You’ve got two choices,” Hassebroek says. “Stop feeding them and they can starve at 40 below or feed them and keep them alive.”
Too late to migrate
Officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Alaska Department of Fish and Game advise against feeding wild ducks because it dulls their natural urge to migrate and can result in large concentrations of ducks that increase the chance for disease.
“It’s not illegal to feed birds, but we don’t advocate feeding ducks,” ADF&G spokeswoman Cathie Harms said. “We don’t like large congregations of birds.”
Of all the types of ducks, Mallards will push the envelope of migration most, because they are bigger and more able to deal with the cold, she said.
Despite warning against feeding wild ducks, she agreed the ducks remaining in Fairbanks now aren’t likely to head south, though she isn’t sure they wouldn’t survive without supplemental feeding.
Hassebroek has talked to officials at both agencies, which is one of the reasons he doesn’t start his feeding program until Nov. 1 and feeds them high-quality food made specifically for waterfowl.
“We figure after the first of November they aren’t going to go anywhere,” Hassebroek said. “If they don’t leave by then, it’s too late for them to land and get food anywhere.
“This isn’t nature,” he added as the ducks continued to sift through the straw for food. “Ducks aren’t supposed to be here at this time of year.”
To Hassebroek, there’s no difference between feeding the ducks or putting sunflower seeds out for black-capped chickadees.
“These ducks are year-round residents,” he said.
Expensive habit
A 53-year resident of Fairbanks and an old duck hunter himself, Hassebroek doesn’t buy the argument that the ducks don’t migrate because they are being fed.
“They’re here because the dang river is open,” he said.
As far as the threat of duck-caused diseases or contamination in the Chena River, Hassebroek scoffs at the idea, especially when the temeprature gets cold.
“With the river open right here, it’s like a toilet flushing every minute,” Hassebroek said. “The ducks that do poop on the snow ... it freezes in five minutes.
“We didn’t have any sick ducks last year,” he said. “I think we had healthy ducks.”
Hassebroek doesn’t like to say how much money he spends feeding the ducks, but it’s not cheap. Last year, he spent more than this year’s Permanent Fund Dividend ($2,069) and energy rebate ($1,200) checks combined.
That’s one of the reasons Hassebroek’s wife, Becky, created Feed the Ducks, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that supports the ducks that overwinter in Fairbanks. All donations are tax deductible, and 100 percent of the donations go to food for the ducks.
“I just got a delivery from North Pole today for $350,” Hassebroek said.
Fairbanks banker Bill Stroecker, a longtime duck hunter, well-known outdoorsman and good friend of Hassebroek, is one of the biggest donors. Last year, Stroecker put up $1,000 to help feed the ducks, something he considers ironic because he says he’s probably shot more ducks than anyone in Fairbanks.
“There’s nothing more beautiful than a mallard duck,” Stroecker said. “If it weren’t for Marv, I think most of the ducks would have died.”
Fat and happy
Watching the ducks gobble up the food he put out for them on Tuesday, Hassebroek admired the bright green heads and blue wing patches on the males that glistened against the snow.
“Some of those drakes are just beautiful,” he said.
Last year, Hassebroek maintained three feeding stations for the ducks — one at the Pioneer Park boat launch, another behind the Carlson Center and one close to the power plant. This year, Hassebroek is feeding them behind the Carlson Center only.
“I’m getting too old to climb up and down that riverbank with two 5-gallon buckets,” he said.
Hassebroek is retired from two careers: He served as an electronics supervisor for the FAA for 25 years and was the owner of Marbec Construction for 15 years. He says feeding the ducks gives him and his wife, Becky, something to do during the winter.
“He’s the impassioned one,” she said of her husband.
The ducks seem to appreciate Hassebroek’s kindness, at least until the food is gone.
“They’re real friendly when you show up, but once the food’s gone they could care less,” he chuckled, as the ducks, now fat and happy, headed back to the river to get a drink.
Anyone wishing to donate to the Feed the Ducks fund can do so by contacting the Hassebroeks at 456-3066 or by e-mail at BeckyHasse@aol.com.
Contact staff writer Tim Mowry at 459-7587.
Community Discussion
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I was wondering why the ducks arent behind pioneer park anymore, I would take my sons to feed them. Then one day. GONE. They moved up to luxury up river a little further. Its amazing now knowing what Mr. & Mrs. Hassebroek do for these guys. Simply awesome.
Yea, its just too bad their natural instinct is being eroded by taking advantage of the survivable conditions. If you feed a duck that has never migrated before in the winter and give it those survivable conditions, it will ignore the migrating ducks next winter. And the ducks migrating next winter will notice it stayed behind and there will be a small chance it will stay with the non-migratorial duck. As new ducks are born and following the trend of non-migration, it will add up and soon we will have tons of ducks that will never ever migrate and will probably die if we suddenly pull the plug on the habit started by humans. Simple explanation, no need for research, its common sense :P
I think he's doing a great kindness to these animals by feeding them. A large percentage of those mallards are captive bread birds that feel the urge to migrate but, because they were raised by humans, don't follow the migrating flocks for one reason or another. They fly away from their original homes and join this non-migratory flock that takes advantage of the open river.
Ducks are tough little birds, but -40 is brutal no matter who you are. I'll be supporting Mr Hasselbroek in his efforts to help them through the winter.
People like the Hassebroeks make me proud to call Fairbanks home.
What a wonderful story. What the Hassebroks are doing is very kind. I have to disagree with Opsamk; as a child we had mallards (two wild but injured and their offspring). With a creek out back the wild mallards would raise offspring and fly away every year. None of the truly wild mallards (that were not disfigured from loose dogs-thats how we got the original ones we had)ever stuck around for winter.
If they arent leaving by winter- they aren't going. Don't think what the Hassebroks are doing would alter the migration habits of mallards. But simply allowing those that have remained to not starve to death.
Kudos to the Hassebroeks for their compassion.
It is a nice gesture, but isn't it illegal to feed them like this? The ducks should have flown south a long time ago. Isn't he really just endangering them, and what happens when he stops feeding them?
Hassebroeks, you are true Alaskans! I'll be supporting you also.
This guy is feeding wildlife, and it is illegal, plain and simple. Same as feeding bears or moose. I hope the Troopers site them and it quits.
If they want to feed someone, why don't they donate the money they would spend on feed to the food bank and help their hungry neighbors instead.
I wonder if they taste better than wild mallards.............hmmmmmm.
Can you guys read? I know, I know, I can't spell. Guess that makes us even. The article clearly states it is not illegal to feed birds in Alaska. "It’s not illegal to feed birds, but we don’t advocate feeding ducks,” ADF&G spokeswoman Cathie Harms said. “We don’t like large congregations of birds.”
I bet ya them corn fed birds taste gooooood.
Two comments above stating it is illegal to feed the ducks.......
The article clearly states that he has contacted both agencies, US Fish and Wildlife and Alaska Dept of Fish and Game, about feeding the ducks and one is quoted as saying it is not illegal to feed the ducks.
I just have to wonder how many people actually read the articles before they start commenting.
Scotty and jwcehc, don't you read the entire article before adding a post? The quote from fish and game “It’s not illegal to feed birds, but we don’t advocate feeding ducks,” ADF&G spokeswoman Cathie Harms said".
With that said, good on you Hassebroek family!
I find it interestng that I have lived here 53 years and it seems to have become a recent fenomina that we have large numbers of birds here thru winter. It was stated it was because of the open water. Need I remind people that Noyes Slough many years ago was open year round and I don't remember ever seeing any ducks in it. Feeding the ducks is making it more comfortable for them to stay. As was noted they recognise mearly the sound of his vehicle when it is feeding time. This is not natural in the least and the birds should of been left alone.
OK, I missed that line about it not being illegal, my bad.
But it still doesn't make mush sense to me. Seems they are still endangering the birds and effecting their normal migration.
Yesterday there was an article about a 70 something man feeding bears at his remote cabin. Today it's about a similar situation delete bears insert ducks. Seems hypocritical to me. What if it were fox or lynx? Attracting one leads to another. People get up in arms about "man" "interfering" with nature when it comes to preditors, but when it comes to prey... what the duck!
Those ducks could be humanly trapped, and sent on their merry way via Alaska Airlines to their wintering grounds. Do it now before you end up with a much larger flock of demented snow ducks next winter. Then give the Alaska Airlines bill to the companies who are responsible for keeping the river open. Their bean counters would find a way to write off the added expense of doing business in the Golden Heart City, win, win situation as ole Hackney would say.
What a heartwarming story! I think it's wonderful to know that people care enough about the ducks that stay behind to make sure they survive the cold winter.
This is just a great story. Enjoy your friends Mr. Hassebrok. We feed "our" ducks cracked corn all summer, then slowly reduce the feedings in September and cut it off in at the end of the month. Every spring, a group of drake mallards show up first, then the hens. We've got one hen, who's been returning for many years, as several of them nest near our home.
We get a wide variety of ducks, mallards, pintails, buffleheads. Sometimes up to 45-50 ducks at any given time. We used to have them trained to bring their chicks up to the porch to eat, but the neighborhood cats put an end to that, as it became a smorgasbord for them damn cats. Now we only feed the ducks down by the slough so it's more safe for them. Still plenty of cats laying in the weeds waiting to ambush a baby mallard or pintail.
I once gave a subtle hint to the neighbor lady about her cats, her reply: "oh it's so cute, every morning my cat leave little duck feet and duck bills at my doorstep as a gift!" She's pretty much a moron. We cannot shoot the cats, but the borough animal control place said we could live trap them and bring em in.
these ducks wintering here are not 100% a product of people feeding them creating them to want to stick around for food. Last fall my children, husband and I were feeding the ducks and noticed 3 HUGE ducks, one a mallard and two hens. I commented on them and the lady next to us feeding the ducks said that a car pulled up the day before with a box, tossed out the three ducks and left.
I've lived here all my life and there has always been a few stragglers that stick around the river. Once again, I think its great someones helping out the ones that are stuck here :)
Ya'd think it'd be cheaper to toss the grain in the back of a truck to lead the ducks in, then close it up and drive them to Washington.
I would bet a lot of people buy ducklings at the Feed Stores in the spring because they are so cute. Then they leave them loose in the river all summer and then abandon them in the fall. Really sad. Course no one who lives on the river would own up to that.
Is this what you call quack science?? When the word gets out he'll have twice as many next year.
He'll be known as the Bird Man of Fairbanks. I wonder how many he's named.
the ducks are not staying around for the food, they stay around because the river never freezes over, so in their little duck brains its still fall. It's because of the warm water out of the power plant down there, this guy is just keeping us from having a bunch of dead ducks down the river, and I think it's great! keep it up!
This so sweet. Reminds me of all the birds I raised who took off every fall. I'm certain some of mine found their way to the river. I am assuming these are domesticated mallards and probably lack the strong migratory instincts of the wild version. As far as cats preying on chicks or ducklings, if a kitten is raised with chicks they tend not to view them as food. I sometimes raised my chicks in an unused bathroom where the cats could gain access, but I never once had a chick consumed...voles, however...fair game.
MrsS
Couldn't they eat out of the dumpster behind the Big I ? Then they could fly high when they migrate.Crack!Crack! (Whoops I mean Quack!Quack!)
ONAPA has it right!!! For all of you who thinks this is a "great thing to be proud of" -- WAKE UP! Shame on you ADF&G for letting it happen!! If this is such a good thing -- for all of you so happy about it, are you going to: feed the hundred more in the next few years if Mr. H cannot anymore, or not mind putting your pet cats and dogs to sleep after they eat their diseased rotting carcasses on the river bank? ADF&G "investigates" a retired teacher for altering wild animals behavior by feeding and living with them and training them to tolerate humans, but simply "discourage" the same act because this retiree has nothing better to do than create a non-prof for self-fullment. Wake up!! Would you who support this kind of ignorance, vote yes on a measure to increase welfare payouts, or a state wide tax -- because its a good thing or good for us? Probably not. In case you havent noticed, in the few years Ive lived here, the population has gone from a dozen to over a hundred. Stupid as; stupidity is. Feel warm about that!!
You know, as much as I like having the birds here (and let's face it, they've adapted to our environment) I wonder what will happen when he is no longer able to take care of them.
I wonder if it would be legal for the borough to trap them, take them over to Santa's Slaughterhouse and hand out duck-meat to all the shelters, homeless and needy in the community. 400 ducks would go a long way~
And so, once again, we discover, no good deed goes unpunished. I am not a biologist nor an ornithologist, so I will leave it up to the geniuses to figure out.
Go Feed the Ducks! We're happy to hear people are helping them!
So angry, so violent. Dam that rap music!
Mackie 1, that kink of bird seed will get you 3-5 years in the cage... unless you're you know who.
Our humanity is measured by what we do for the animals.
I am curious, how did they survive the winter before we feed them?
Bears seem a tad bit more harmful than a flock of birds buddy
This seems like a good idea....but it's not. This flock of ducks has grown and grown over the years, as they are getting accustomed to not flying to warmer climates. You are messing with mother nature. What will happen if the weather suddenly drops to -40'F or even dare I say sixty below zero for a few days? The river will freeze up and we'll see hundreds of frozen little duck bodies laying around. I cannot believe it is legal to feed these animals in this manner. Is it legal to take them for eating purposes? Anyone here a wildlife expert?
Since these ducks by definition and admission do not fall into the migratory bird and waterfowl regulations, the closest regulations concerning them would be for feral non-native game birds (which the article also purports them as). In that case there are no limits and an open season (except for some special limits in Anchorage). The moral of this story is that if you feel like duck for dinner head down to the Chena.
The river doesn't freeze at -40 downstream from the power plant. Hasn't since I've lived here anyway; even with the -60 days we haven't seen in awhile.
From the article:
...they begin pouring out of the open water — caused by warm discharge from the nearby power plant....
Been this way for years folks, ducks included. Christmas bird count reflects this too. Nice to see them on the river, and knowing they have a steward in the Hassebroeks.
Wasn't the food bank saying they will be facing shortages this January. I bet 400 ducks would feed a lot of people.
Yep, sure would, IF someone were willing to catch/butcher/clean THAT many.
The river does freeze down stream when it gets colder, it just melts once it warms up. I can't help but think how timely this article is for the up coming Holidays. Come on guys, Git er done!
Well If ever there was a reason to change the Law Mr. Hassebroek has given it to us! The ducks are not staying there as one writer said because the "water is open". There are lots of places with open water that don't have 1 duck hanging around wonder why? They are staying because people are FEEDING THEM! Mr. Hassebroek is doing ducks in general no favors. Wait till Nov. 1 why ???? How about Jan. 1? Duck season is open till Dec. 16. Lets go get them as one writer said and give them to the food bank. This is not like feeding Black-capped chickadees they don't migrate! If you want to feed ducks go buy some and feed away, but leave the wild ones, WILD! I guess the legislature or the board of Game will have to get involved to correct peoples stupidity.
Quack quack quack beer quack quack quack beer quack quack quack beer quack quack quack
I am not too familiar with the waterfowl regulations. Would it be wrong to ask about a training opportunity for my labrador pup? If the birds are on public property and it's not considered interfering to feed them, then the same should be said for taking them. There's probably some federal requirements related to using lead free shot and having a federal waterfowl stamp, also using firearms within city limits, but how about archery? One other question, is shooting them while they are not in the air legal in Alaska?
What silly ducks! What I wouldn't give to fly to a warmer climate in the winter and return in the summer. I've always envied them when they begin to fly south. Silly silly ducks.
Duck
Duck...
GOOSE!
Onapa, go to the source and don't ask anyone to armchair it for you.
http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/
May be winter, but the offices are open on College Rd. They can also probably tell you what the restrictions are inside city limits.
I forgot to mention how natural it is to have bedding straw on the banks of the Chena River in the middle of November. Hell, who would want to leave with such good treatment?
Yota99714,
I would not hunt these birds even if it is legal. However, I also won't hunt unless I know the laws, rules, regulations, limitations, and boundaries for local, burrough, state, and federal. I just thought maybe some waterfowler with local experience might know off hand.
hairbrain,
I was going to mention the problem reported by the DEC when the river flooded over the summer and grass clippings were piling up on gravel and sand bars. I guess bales of straw aren't anything like grass clippings. Besides straw is used by the dog mushers and we wouldn't want to offend them.
My appologies for thinking straw is cut grass and ducks are wildlife. The farmers I grew up around sure had the world backwards.
I don't remember Noyes Slough ever being open year-round, except for one year off-and-on when it didn't get very cold that winter.
Why would it have been open year-round years ago? What changed?
Just in case anyone is of a mind to go duck hunting, these guys are within the city limits, where it is illegal to discharge a firearm.
It's not just the open water that's the attraction. The area below the power plant is WARM open water!
A Native friend told me that the ducks who don't fly out probably hatched late, and their feathers and wings are not developed enough to fly out when the others leave.
As someone else mentioned, duck who are able to migrate do follow their natural instincts to do so. They are hardwired to migrate. They were created with not only the instinct but also the ability to arrive at the right place. Just like bees follow magnetic fields, migratory birds are born with the ability to fly thousands of miles and arrive at the same place each year, at the right time of year. They really don't stop and think it over and decide whether to migrate or to stay and look for the man with the five gallon buckets!
I'm so glad to hear these folks are feeding the ducks. I've heard many people speculate about whether they would freeze into the ice or starve.
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