Just as the snow birds have chosen Fountain Hills as their winter home, the waterfowl at Fountain Park have chosen to make the lake theirs.

When we take our daily strolls, we are essentially trespassing on their turf. While full-time residents enjoy seeing both human and winged friends return to town seasonally, we would appreciate it if the humans showed a little more respect and gratitude for being here.

Instead of complaining about the birds, how about complimenting the improvements we’ve made while you were gone? “Lovely renovations to the Avenue!” “Wow, the roads in town are pristine!” “The path lighting around the lake sure makes it convenient to take walks any time!”

Nope, every year the focus is on birds and what birds do naturally. There is not now, nor will there ever be, a plan to remove or kill off our winged lake dwellers; get used to it.

We love and respect nature and we peacefully coexist with it. It’s an attraction, not a nuisance, and the reason most of us call Fountain Hills home.

If you cannot learn to appreciate Mother Nature’s gifts, please refrain from suggesting that we get rid of them. Beauty is what brought us here and we intend to keep it. We will not consider killing off or removing birds to suit petty inconveniences.

Here’s a suggestion: adjust your attitude, embrace nature and the wildlife around you and wipe your feet. It’s really that simple.