Portland geese deformed by ‘unnaturally high-calorie diet’

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 10, 2024

Geese in Deering Oaks park were spotted with deformed wings on Monday, Portland’s Parks Department said Monday. Some geese are suffering from a condition called “angel wing,” which is a malformation of their wings caused by an “unnaturally high-calorie diet (bread),” the department said. The condition usually results in a twist in the last joint of a bird’s wing, causing feathers to protrude from its body, according to the Maine Audubon. The condition, which is fatal, prevents the geese from being able to complete their usual migration patterns. “You all can help by not feeding the birds in our parks,” the department said.