These ducks, now numbering over twenty, were at the center of a controversy with the Barcelona City Council when it was proposed to relocate the temporary tent of the Mercado de la Estrella to the gardens. This decision, announced in March 2022, generated strong neighborhood and legal opposition, which ultimately led the council to backtrack.
The dispute, which lasted four years, concluded last March with the announcement by Jaume Collboni's government that the market's renovation would proceed at its usual location, without needing to displace vendors or occupy the Baix Guinardó Gardens. This gave the lake's ducks a "second life."
“"The increase of the 'collverd' duck (mallard) in Barcelona and its metropolitan area is an undeniable fact that has occurred for various reasons, perhaps stimulated by the increase in aquatic vegetation in some artificial ponds."
However, the overpopulation of these birds, especially the mallard, now poses a new threat. Direct feeding by citizens has artificially inflated their breeding rate, exceeding the natural capacity of the ponds. This situation can severely degrade urban aquatic ecosystems, as ducks intensely prey on dragonflies and amphibians.
The city council, aware of this issue, has conducted communication campaigns to discourage the feeding of wild animals, including pigeons and wild boars. Municipal sources emphasize that, although this is not the birds' natural habitat, efforts are made to support them, and citizens are warned not to feed them, as this is crucial for their presence and behavior.
