Birdfeeding Questions
Worries and Concerns

Winter Bird Feeding: Real Worries and Needless Concerns

Margaret Clark Brittingham, Ph.D

While a truly amazing number of North Americans feed the wild birds that fly through their yards, they often wonder if on balance they are helping or creating unnatural problems. As the final segment in this 11-part series on "The Dynamics of Bird Feeding," two professional biologists offer their answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.

"Do I need to feed birds continuously once I start?"

It certainly does not hurt to keep your feeders filled, but a sense of guilt if you don't is not necessary. Birds search for food constantly, visiting many locations each day. Most birds feed primarily on natural foods, but these can disappear literally overnight due to snow, ice or consumption by other birds. As a result, birds know not to depend on any single source of food -- even a feeder that is always filled. Birds are creatures of habit, however. If you leave your feeder empty, you probably will be dropped from their foraging route. This may give your neighbors a competitive advantage.

"Will birds become overly dependent on feeder food?"

Researchers found in Wisconsin that chickadees were getting less than 25% of their energy requirements from feeders. In addition, a study in Maryland found that birds depend primarily on natural food supplies. The Wisconsin study also found that chickadees in a remote area that suddenly had their feeder removed in the middle of the winter found natural food as readily as their cousins who never had had a feeder. The groups' survival rate was the same.

"Will feeder birds stop migrating?"

Since birds migrate ultimately to avoid winter food shortages, an abundant food supply may change their behavior over time. But since migratory behavior has evolved over thousands of years, it is doubtful this has changed during the 30 or so years that people have been feeding birds. Most birds continue to base their migration on the change in day length. In fact, most migrate in late summer and fall when natural foods may be at their most plentiful for the year.

"Does bird feeding give introduced species an advantage?

The role bird feeding plays in species competition is not known, primarily because large amounts of human-associated foods (garbage, crops, livestock feed) are available. Bird feeders are just one source of food for "problem" species such as house sparrows and European starlings that compete with native birds for food and cavity-nesting sites.

"Are there some foods I should not feed to birds?"

Commercially prepared seeds are fine as long as they and the feeders do not get moldy. Bread and bakery products can be fed to birds, but they often attract such problem species as sparrows and starlings, along perhaps with nocturnal visitors. In general, birds will consume food that is good for them and avoid the rest. And you want to offer the food preferred by the species you are trying to attract to your yard. Plus water. For hummingbirds, one part plain white granulated sugar to four parts water is recommended. Never use honey because it can cause a potentially fatal fungal infection on their tongues.

"Are cats a problem?"

Cat predation on birds at feeders overall is fairly low. They have their largest impact on nesting birds and fledglings. It helps to use hanging feeders, at least four feet off the ground, and put bells on the cats. And since they hunt by surprise, keep feeders separate from bushes and other hiding places.

"Will other predators be attracted to my feeders?"

Birds gathering at feeders may attract wild predators, such as sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks. One study found that mourning doves suffered most from hawk predation, followed by house sparrows. Placing feeders near escape cover such as trees and shrubs helps, as does simply a well-planted yard. Hawks are relatively rare and widely dispersed, and their hunting success is low.

"Is disease a big problem at bird feeders?"

The primary diseases reported at winter bird feeders are salmonellosis, an intestinal bacteria, and house finch conjunctivitis. If droppings from infected birds accumulate in or under feeders, the risk of other birds becoming infected increases. The risk also goes up at feeding stations that use platform feeders or that are visited by large flocks of social birds that feed in groups, such as sparrows, finches and juncos.

"What is the best way to reduce the risk of disease?"

If you feed on the ground, place food on dry, well-drained or frozen soil. Rotate the feeding area, and clean up debris. If you put food in a platform feeder or on a deck or balcony, feed only as much seed as can be consumed in a day. If you use tube feeders, which are the best for avoiding disease, clean out any moldy seed or wet residue regularly. If you store seed, keep it in a cool and dry location.

"How can I keep birds from flying into my window?"

Birds fly into windows because they do not see them, or can see through the house, or see the outside reflected on the glass. Placing feeders close to a window actually helps. Birds when alarmed hit the window before they have built up much speed. Plus they may "discover" the glass while feeding. Hawk silhouettes are not very effective, but screening and netting are.

With these questions and answers in mind, people who enjoy the continent-wide pastime of feeding wild birds can make the hobby more enjoyable for both the people and the birds.

©2003 birdfeeding.org.The Bird's-Eye reView

See Also:

Preventing Birds From Flying Into Windows