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 Is supplemental feeding of wild birds a good, bad or indifferent process?
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| Author | Topic: Is supplemental feeding of wild birds a good, bad or indifferent process? |
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WildJasmine Junior Member |
posted March 21, 2006 11:56 PM
  
This was suggested as a topic and now I'm really wondering what the answer is, or if there is really an answer. Prior to posting this question I called two friends to ask what their opinion was. One answered that he thought it was helpful and that supplemental feeding of birds couldn't possibly have a big enough negative impact that it could really stop birds from feeding naturally. The other friend, of course, had no idea. I'd like to know what everyone else thinks! Is supplemental feeding of wild birds a good, bad or indifferent process? Jas IP: Logged |
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dan Member |
posted March 22, 2006 08:59 AM
Several studies over the years suggest that for most songbirds, supplimentary feeding does not have an adverse affect on them. Information gleened through studies like project feederwatch suggests that for many songirds, (chickadees etc.) foraging at feeders represents less then 15% of their daily feeding activity - the other 85% of foraging is done on natural food sources. Having said this, birds such as N Cardinals and Mourning Doves might be extending their range and increasing their overwintering numbers in northern climes due, in part, to the presence of bird feeders. Feeding birds such as waterfowl and wild turkeys on the other hand, is discouraged because of the chance of "domesticating" them to artificial food sources. Feeding songbirds should not be considered beneficial nor harmful, simply enjoyable - keep your feeder and food clean! IP: Logged |
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Steve Patterson Junior Member |
posted March 22, 2006 03:47 PM
Dan has it right, I think. Cleanliness is paramount. The least-difficult method of keeping the food mould and disease-free is by ensuring a dry environment for the seed. Seed plus water equals PROBLEMS. Keeping feed area fully protected from direct and indirect water infiltration. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you are feeding birds, especially the ones that are potentially "dependent", you've made a commitment for the duration of the winter. S IP: Logged |
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Rose Power Member |
posted May 12, 2006 06:09 PM
I feed the birds year round, and find that even in winter they don't always come to the feeders every day. I am a Feederwatch member, and one of the things we agree to do is to fill up the feeder at least once a week. The migrants like grackles do use the feeder a lot, but the native birds seem to be occasional users. Either they go to natural sources or other nearby feeders. I don't think it is a bad thing. On the contrary, the more we can do to help the birds who have lost so much habitat and food supplies can only help. Also a help is planting native fruit bearing plants in the garden, so they have a natural food supply. ------------------ IP: Logged |
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Allan Foster Moderator |
posted May 31, 2006 10:35 AM
I agree with Dan who knows a lot more about birds than I do. He says I should just enjoy feeding the birds reallizing that I'm not really helping or hindering them. So I do. I hang four kinds of feeders from my big maple tree and enjoy nuthatches and woodpeckers at the peanut feeder, goldfinches and indigo buntings at the finch feeder, cardinals at the sunflower feeder and, of course, humingbirds at their station. I find that it is very difficult getting any reading done under my tree. Too much action! Cheers, Allan IP: Logged |
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Allan Foster Moderator |
posted May 31, 2006 10:42 AM
I agree with Dan who knows a lot more about birds than I do. He says I should just enjoy feeding the birds reallizing that I'm not really helping or hindering them. So I do. I hang four kinds of feeders from my big maple tree and enjoy nuthatches and woodpeckers at the peanut feeder, goldfinches and indigo buntings at the finch feeder, cardinals at the sunflower feeder and, of course, humingbirds at their station. I find that it is very difficult getting any reading done under my tree. Too much action! Cheers, Allan IP: Logged |
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