American Backyard Feeders May Do Harm to Wild Birds

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Friday, December 27, 2002 | JAMES P. STERBA

[TroutStalker]

Last year, Americans spent $2.6 billion on birdseed. That's more than twice as much as they spent on prepared baby food, and two and a half times as much as they spent on food for needy nations. They shelled out a further $733 million on feeders, houses and baths for birds.

[TroutStalker]

Oh and yes, we have the hummingbird feeders for summer also. My husband always begins to look for these beautiful little creatures in May and is saddened when they leave us in the fall.

Those are my favorites too. I look forward to them zipping back and forth, then hovering in place.

[FreeReign]

You singlehandedly just caused me to remove my birdfeeder and those of ten of my closest neighbors.

Now you've done it! You've angered your chickadees and p*ssed off your cardinals. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes when the word gets out in Birdland. :|

[Phyto Chems]

I use a feeder & suet blocks myself. I manage the birds by not refilling them as often. To force the birds to find it elsewere also, so they don't depend on me. I also 'broadcast' it in the street (I live on a dead end street), this provides for the squirrels, ground birds like dove and chinese pheasant. The LORD put birds on this planet for our enjoyment, and I don't get to 'worked-up' about the EXTREMEIST Envrios. I have a pellet gun that I use on unwanted cats and the like. I have not had to use it as much as one would think. A good scream or two works wonders.

[tubebender]

First they tell us the greedy farmer is planting fence to fence leaving no weedy plants for birds and now we're bad for feeding the hungry birds. Now what do I do with the 150 pounds of bird seed in my garage. and about the rats...that's what my Sheridan pellet gun is for.

[steveo]

All the world seems in tune
On a spring afternoon,
When we're poisoning pigeons in the park.
Ev'ry Sunday you'll see
My sweetheart and me,
As we poison the pigeons in the park.

When they see us coming, the birdies all try an' hide,
But they still go for peanuts when coated with cyanide.
The sun's shining bright,
Ev'rything seems all right,
When we're poisoning pigeons in the park.
- Lehrer

[BJClinton]

My favorite bird feeder is a ground maze dispenser set on a timer for just before sunrise and just at sunset. Then wait in the bushes 10 yards away and wait for the quail and dove to show up.

[csvset]

Birdseed-industry officials acknowledge that disease, predators and window collisions around feeders kill birds

Hah! The other day about 15 birds flew onto my back porch to feed on the dog's food. Our 13 year old cat couldn't resist and {WHAM!}, he tried jumping through the sliding glass door. He bloodied his nose in the effort.

Later that night, our other cat caught and killed a mouse underneath our bird feeder. I'd say nature has a way of evening things out.

[raisincane]

Hawks - When I came this afternoon, two hawks were screaming across our front woods. Beautiful specimens of nature, high and wild. Nature is His present to we mortals. To be enjoyed by all. (We feed those gorgeous gifts, too.)

[LurkerNoMore!]

I know some extortionist birds that are gonna be pretty mad when they read about this!

[NorthGA]

I have several Absolute bird feeders - with a counter-weighted seed cover that can be set by weight. When a heavy bird such as a blue Jay or squirrel hops on, the seed opening slams shut. The blue jays still get food, but they have to be quick! Most give up. This gives us lots of finches, cardinals, etc.

I do miss having squirrels to practice my pellet gun skills with.

[Brett66]

At the Millerton Agway gardening center in Millerton, N.Y., birdseed virtually flies out of the store in wintertime, says manager Paul O'Neil.

I thought he would get a better job than that after resigning. ;-)

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Phyto Chems]

I had the same problem, I saw in a bird store a squirrel protector all it was, was a 6" stove pipe about 2' or 3' long and had a cap on the top end, with a hole cut into it so it 3/4" EMT would slide through it. It was held up on the EMT by a hose clamp and the bottom just swung free. The squirrel can't grab onto it and they have not bothered my feeders for over a year or so now. They wanted $50.00 for one at the store, but I went to the hardware store and bought the parts and was up and running for the cost of about $5.00. Hope this helps.

[csmusaret]

Use nothing but Safflower seed. The squirrels won't touch it but the cardinals love it.

[LurkerNoMore!]

heheh

[Fzob]

I like feeding the birds in my backyard. They are interesting critters, fun to watch and cause no real damage to my property. The cats also seem to view the birdfeeder was a bait station, as I find one or two presents a month on the back porch from the cats.

[nanny]

Gosh, I just keep out enough feed for the squirrels also. We usually buy shelled corn, deer corn in this part of the country, and keep it out for the squirrels. I like them also. They don't seem to bother the bird feeders. My cat doesn't bother the birds - but they do bother her. She has one mockingbird that dive bombs her everytime she goes outside.

Please don't tell me the person writing this has a government grant---

[Mercat]

We call them welfare birds but we enjoy them anyway... and what's wrong with our cats catching a few? Saves on cat food and keeps them from being bored.

[nanny]

That's one way of looking at it. I don't feed birds during the times when there is natural food around - just during winter or a severely dry times. Shucks, I feed anything that comes to my door hungry.

[Vinnie]

I'm an occasional birder, my son in Co. is 6 steps above an avid birder.

I feed them seeds, thistle, and suet. Can't imagine not helping them out. After last weeks ice storm they were hungry, flocking to my feeders.

My 'thing' is red-headed woodpeckers. They are uncommon nowadays.
Last year I had one at my feeder for several weeks. She then brought 2 young with her ( their heads are brown). That was exciting.

My son in Co. is into photographing them. He has become quite good. If I had a website I'd post one or two.