[Red Badger]

Law of unintended consequences.................

[PGR88]

suggested the increase in garden feeding has led to an increase in population densities of blue tits and that could be leading to crowding out of other species such as willow tits.

Sounds serious. And men have to worry about beer nuts, and cotton balls.

[FatherofFive]

the blue tit.

TTIUWP

[blam]

I have an area in my yard, just outside this window where I sit everyday that I spread a small pail of mixed bird seeds.

Yesterday, I counted 14 squirrels, 8 doves, 4 blue jays, 3 cardinals, 1 red wing black bird and 1 red-headed woodpecker.

The surprise was to see the woodpecker down on the ground pecking away.

[Seruzawa]

So, Scotland soon to ban bird feeders? Muslim rape still okay though.

[KarlInOhio]

They found that approximately 150,000 tons of birdfeed is purchased each year in the U.K. They also found that the amount of feed given to birds is more than triple what would be needed to sustain them all.

So how much do the squirrels get?

[a fool in paradise]

>>They found that approximately 150,000 tons of birdfeed is purchased each year in the U.K. They also found that the amount of feed given to birds is more than triple what would be needed to sustain them all.

i don’t know about the UK but in America squirrels and other critters are also eating “birdseed”.

[a fool in paradise]

>>But what impact does so much easy feeding have on the birds?

they never ask this about a 70 year welfare state

[exDemMom]

I once saw birds trying to peck through the snow to get food. I felt sorry for them and bought a suet feeder. Over the next few years, I kept putting up bird feeders. That is, until I realized that the birds were telling their friends and their friends were telling other friends, until I had massive numbers of birds coming for the free food. Also, being more educated on wildlife, I am aware now as I was not then that wild animals should be left alone and should forage for their own food. It is healthier for them, and does not disrupt their ability to survive in the wild. It isn’t like I will never see birds if I don’t feed them. They still show up. I even saw a juvenile falcon sitting on our deck once, which was surprising.

In a way, giving birds food is much like putting birds on welfare. The same dependency on handouts occurs. Don’t make the birds into welfare recipients!

[dainbramaged]

We used to put up a bird feeder in Juneau but the bears kept tearing it down.

[LibWhacker]

I wonder if all that feeding and overfeeding is making them fat and not able to escape predators as easily? Time to do a study on cat droppings?

[fidelis]

I feed birds in my yard almost every morning so Mrs. fidelis and I can watch them while we have our coffee. Also, I am a nature photographer (hobbyist level) so I do it to take pictures as well. I don’t to it to keep them alive, but just for my own entertainment; I give them just enough for the morning and after that they’re on their own.

Since we have hummingbirds here year-round, we keep their feeders filled. They have to eat about 15 minutes, but even so they get most of their eats from flowers and insects.

[Clutch Martin]

Some people are so fortunate to fall onto a line of work they actually cherish.

[P.O.E.]

[SJackson]

Outdoors/Rural/wildlife/hunting/hiking/backpacking/National Parks/animals list please FR mail me to be on or off . And ping me is you see articles of interest.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

150,000 TONS of wild bird food in the U.K. every year? That is staggering and just doesn’t seem possible. Brings to mind this...