If you love wildlife and want to make a difference, you may wonder if you should feed wild birds. I’ve heard that providing food (and water and shelter) for birds is helpful. I’ve also heard that feeding wild birds can be harmful, making them dependent on you. Confused, I decided to do some research.
Here’s what I’ve learned: not only about feeding wild birds, but about other ways that we can we help them.
Should I feed them?
The short answer is yes. But you need to do so thoughtfully.
First and foremost, feeding birds probably does not make them dependent on us. Your bird feeder is almost certainly just one source of food for visiting birds, and if it is removed, they will find other sources.
But there are other concerns to consider besides dependency on feeders. One concern is predators, ranging from raptors to cats. Cats are a very real concern, but there are steps you can take to reduce their access to the birds at your feeder, including keeping feeders away from shrubbery that cats can hide in. And, for heaven’s sake, if you have a cat, keep it indoors! As for raptors, I tend to agree with Bird Watcher’s Digest: “it is all part of nature.”
More importantly, feeding birds can lead to bird strikes against windows, although this can be prevented by the appropriate placement of the feeders (Bird Watcher’s Digest suggests keeping feeders within five feet of a window or at least 30 feet away, as well as reducing the amount of reflective surfaces on windows.) And feeding birds can aid in the spread of disease among birds; however, keeping feeders clean and selecting bird seed with care can greatly reduce the chance that birds will become sick as a result of visiting your feeder.
As to whether or not feeding birds is helpful, most studies show that winter feeding can help birds survive harsh winters in better condition, although a couple of studies in the U.K. showed potential harmful effects in bird reproduction.
Despite the (mostly) positive news about feeding birds during the winter, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology points out that the most threatened species tend to be birds that don’t visit feeders, such as shorebirds and tropical species. Nevertheless, the lab encourages people to keep feeding birds, because doing so connects people to the natural world. And, when you feel more connected to the natural world, you are more likely to be an environmental advocate.
What else can I do to help wild birds?
- Learn about when and how to rescue birds. Most baby birds do not need to be “rescued,” and of those that do, sometimes the rescue is as simple as returning a nestling to its nest. In the case of obviously sick or injured birds, one of the best approaches you can take is to look up your local wildlife rehabilitation center and contact them for advice or assistance.
- Take birds into account as you landscape. Reduce the size of your lawn (or eliminate it altogether!) and add native plants that can provide birds in your area with food and shelter. Avoid using pesticides and herbicides.
- Educate yourself about light pollution and take steps to fight it. Light pollution affects bird migration patterns, among other things.
- Be a citizen scientist. You can help provide data for wildlife organizations by participating in bird counts. Within the U.S., the National Audubon Society sponsors the Christmas Bird Count and the Great Backyard Bird Count. You may be able to find additional bird counts in your area.
- Keep this in mind: When you do things to preserve and protect the environment, you are helping birds. Whatever you do to fight climate change, support biodiversity, and avoid pollution has an effect on birds. When you’re a good steward, birds benefit.