Beach season launches in Ottawa
Posted Jun 18, 2011 06:04:17 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
With the official launch of summer comes the official opening of Ottawa area beaches.
Lifeguards are on duty noon to 7 p.m. at Mooney’s Bay, Britannia and Westboro beaches, and Petrie Island.
As people flood the beaches, the City of Ottawa is left dealing with a problem; birds.
Martha Robinson of Ottawa Public Health told 1310News large flocks of birds can be a problem because of what they leave behind.
Robinson said it is almost impossible to keep ducks, gulls and geese off grassy areas of beaches, but the city has seen success in using overhead wires to keep them away from shorelines.
Anyone caught feeding the birds could face a fine of $256. Robinson said people should remember these are wild animals. Don’t feed them, and make sure to pick up your garbage.
If large flocks of birds hit our parks and beaches, the waste they leave behind could mean poor water quality and bans on swimming.
Updates on water quality start Sunday to let the public know whether water is safe for swimming, and can be found on the City of Ottawa website.
