VILLA PARK

A homeowner at the center of controversy for feeding and sheltering large numbers of wild ducks in her swimming pool says she has stopped leaving food out for them. Neighbors complained that the ducks were a public nuisance and safety hazard. Judy Simons said she stopped the feedings Feb. 28 after gradually reducing the amount of food she put out in her backyard.

Some city officials are pushing for a new ordinance to prohibit feeding large numbers of birds, arguing that feeding them could weaken egg shells and cause diseases to be passed more easily. But Simons said that she’s observed no such problems and that the ducks avoided crowding each other by waiting on the lawn while others ate.