Feed the Birds?

[PaulnCarole]

Many years ago I can remember being told not to feed wild birds between April and October, as, during this time, they can find food themselves, and if us humans were to intervene and put food out, the parent birds would overfeed their young, which was compared to a human baby being force fed a three-course meal. I am presently watching a nature programme which tells us to put out food all through the summer. I wonder, was the advice from long ago (not to feed during the warmer months) incorrect? Or is Bill Oddie barking up the wrong tree? Or is Bill Oddie just barking mad? (Only joking, I think he's great, loved him in The Goodies). Or maybe nowadays birds have "wised up" on the problem of over-feeding their young? What do other ABers think?

[Artful]

I now get yelled at by friends who come because they see I'm still feeding the birds and it was me who had told them they shouldn't during the summer months. Everything, including advice, seemed to change in 2003 with the heatwave.
It was observed that birds migratory habits were changing and many were leaving our countrysides. I heard to combat this is to continue putting out a little (no way as much as in the winter) so the birds will know there are places where there is always food...

Who else has heard this?

[spudqueen]

Yes, I now feed the birds all year round. It's quite funny actually because in the spring when there are baby birds to be fed the adults go through the food I put out like there's no tomorrow. I am informed that they are feeding the babies on natural food (caterpillars etc) but stop by the feeders to keep themselves fed. If you are lucky when the babies have fledged you can see the adults bring them to the feeders to explain where they can always get food.

At the end of last summer and during the autumn the birds were hardly taking any food from my feeders as apparently it was a good year for natural seeds.

You've got to remember that if a bird is a natural seed eater (you can often tell by the thicker bills, insect eaters have thinner bills) then there aren't actually many seeds around in the spring and early summer.

[smudge]

I also feed birds all year round - they love my food!

[PaulnCarole]

I put currants out (along with other food) and the blackbirds absolutely love them. I also get through lots of sunflower hearts, they are very popular with the birds that visit our garden. We have fed a stray cat for a number of years, she has never been a threat to the wild birds, in fact they chase her off her food sometimes! We have a magpie that visits every day, and if the cat is at her dish eating the cat food, the magpie jumps on her tail and pulls her off the food, so the magpie can get to it! It has to be seen to be believed. I think the magpie is feeding young, as she stuffs as much as she can carry in her beak and then flies off. I hope the cat food is safe for birds. Anyone know?

[woofgang]

Yes I feed all year. The birds take what they need and also there seem to be more of them eating my insects. I think that actually the original advice was just plain wrong!!!!

[shivvy]

Yup - I think that the thinking has changed and it is now generally agreed that it is important to feed the birds all year round so that a food source is not removed after they have got used to (and introduced their young to) it. 

I have 2 related queries - one I posted today about discouraging crows - any answers very very welcome.

The other is - where do people buy their peanut or seed from?  I am going through a lot of it at the moment with  the babies and parents feeding and wouldn't mind making a saving if I could. 

Sorry if I have hijacked your question PaulnCarole but my knuckles are sore from banging on the window to scare the crows away and my bank account is seriously depleted cause of the amount of grub my little (and large) feathered friends are getting through!!

[smudge]

We buy our loose wild bird seed, nuts & fat balls from Wilkinsons - in the UK of course!

[FP]

I feed them all the year round as well.

Birds do not have access to as much natural food as they did years ago.  The countryside has been over farmed and the use of  pesticides and other chemicals has seen a huge decline in the number of insects.  Headlands around fields (which used to have an abundant supply of food for the birds) have diminished as farmers try to get more and more profit from their farms.   There are also less hedges.   As a result there are less birds and some species are very low in numbers or even threatened.  Even the lowly sparrow has suffered.  Fortunately, there are moves afoot to make farmers more nature friendly and they are now being offered subsidies for bringing in more nature friendly farming methods.

Birds now rely very heavily on our garden birdtables, so please continue to feed all the year.  Man has been responsible for the decline in their food, so we should help them.

[FP]

I buy my birdfood from an animal feed warehouse and buy seed and nuts by the sack load!!