MAILBAG - Nov. 11, 1999

I’m sure [Kiki] Allan, the lady you featured on your Monday front page

feeding the birds, is a lovely lady and you got a great picture of the

swan (“Friend of the feathered,” Nov. 8). But I wonder how she would

feel if she knew she were possibly contributing to the demise of her

precious bird friends.

In your article you alluded to the fact that these are not pets. They

are indeed wild animals; part of a fragile ecosystem. As wild things they

learn to forage for the proper food for them in order to live. When a

well-meaning human feeds them quantities of “Wonder bread” they no longer

feel the need to forage and indeed those cute youngsters never learn to

find their own food. They get filled up with human leftovers which may

not contain the proper nutrients for their well-being.

In nature those little ducklings would very rarely be seen. They would

remain hidden in the tall grasses. By tempting them with bread they are

acquiring a false sense of security and are being set up as targets for

their natural predators as well as some human predators, which they

should never have to deal with.

That beautiful swan that we have noticed for several weeks floating in

the Upper Bay is also a wild creature. He probably stopped off here in

Newport to rest and feed on his way south, maybe to meet up with the love

of his life. By feeding him bread he is being sidetracked and may miss

out on the mating season where he should be.

I’m sure Allan does not realize the impact of her well-meant actions.

But, please inform your readers that they are not helping any wild

animals by feeding them human food. If anyone really wants to help they

should become involved with the Friends and Volunteer Naturalist Program

at the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve and Regional Park. Call (949)

640-1740 for information. Thank you.

MARJORIE WHITE

Volunteer naturalist

Let Marinapark residents stay

We find it very difficult to understand both the city’s attitude toward

its leasehold land at Marinapark, and also the Daily Pilot’s editorial

animosity. There does not seem to be an issue of the best use of “public”

land when it comes to the city’s leasehold waterfront property at Beacon

Bay or Balboa Bay Club. Indeed, both of these properties received long

lease renewals recently, and rightfully so. It is in the city’s and the

citizens’ best interest to provide both of those facilities with

stability, security, and the opportunity to improve and upgrade their

sites. Furthermore, neither is a public use; neither has a public beach.

Marinapark, on the other hand, does have a public beach, fully accessible

to all, with public parking, and public sailing lessons. Marinapark

began in the 1940s as a “trailer park,” but has long since become a

modular housing community. Residents have never had a long enough lease

to securely make this their primary residence, yet many do. Fifteen years

ago, they were forced to sign away their rights in a questionable lease.

It was “take it or leave it.” Now this past lease is again being used as

an eviction threat. Marinapark is a good neighbor, adds handsomely to

city income, is law abiding, adds nothing in city policing or schooling

costs, and adds minimal local traffic. In short, Marinapark is an ideal

community which Newport Beach should be wooing with offers of a 50-year

lease, much as it did with Balboa Bay Club and Beacon Bay.

DR. and MRS. MARTIN LITKE

Newport Beach