Are we making birds "Human Dependant"

Hi Judi

To be honest I do not think that we are too interferring with our quest to keep our birds well fed.  They can re-adapt easily to what food sources are around.

Only last year I went on my holidays to Spain May-time for two weeks, and came back to find the bird feeders drained,

After filling up the feed stations, our friendly Mrs Blackbird was back in no time.

So for two weeks the bird must have survived somehow without any human assistance (in winter time it might be a little different!)

My Mrs Blackbird looked in great condition considering she had no bird food for 2 whole weeks.

So, IMHO,  I think we assist rather than taking over the bird eating habits. birds are wild after all and have that instinct to eat what they can - through rain or shine

Regards

Kathy and Dave

JudiM said:

Hi all,
I love to feed the birds, but wondered if we were in danger making them dependant on human intervention by feeding all year round. Will they eventually become lazy and not look anywhere else. I want to help them but I don't want to domesticate them. I have blackbirds now who sit on the wall and shout for raisins.
I need some reassurance that I am not interferring with nature too much

Hi Judi,

I have wondered that myself sometimes - during the summer and autumn. I try to compensate a bit by making them work for their food. I tend not to put mealworms in containers. Instead I scatter them on the ground in different places. They get buried in the gravel and under plants and so forth, but the birds search them out and dig them up. I do the same with nuts. I used to do the same with raisins but had to stop after discovering they are poisonous to dogs. I know it isn't much, but it makes me feel better!

I have noticed over the years that although we have always fed the birds, when there is natural food available in the fields and hedgerows, they come to the feeders less. We possibly do intefere in the winter, as obviously more would die at that time of the year. As man has damaged so much of the birds enviroment, then man must compensate and feed them.

Thanks everybody really helpful advice, so I shall continue during the summer with the exception of nuts which can choke chicks.

Hi Judi

I agree with the others, i think we are helping them to survive.

many birds would not of made it if it wasn't for people like us. I to have seen many sick looking and thin birds come to my garden,and over time watched them grow putting on weight and looking a lot better. then to watch them find partners and have chicks of they own.

And none of this would of happened if we didn't make the time to feed them.

Hi

I also get a lot of pleasure, injoyment and a sense of pride knowing that I have, in a small way have done as much as I can to help out the birds who vist my garden.

The herons in Regent's Park in London are definitely becoming human dependent.  They used to be quite shy of humans, but now they hang around with the ducks, etc. for scraps.  They are not apparently too interested in the usual soggy bread on offer (sensible) but wait for the increasingly large number of people who bring them fish.  If you go there at about 11 in the morning, you can often witness a 'Pied Piper of Hamelin' scenario with about 25 herons following this one lady who regularly brings them leftovers from a nearby hospital canteen!  One day I witnessed another lady opening a brand new packet of tesco prawns for their delectation!

You don't have to forego the peanuts, just bash them up.

Soosin said:

You don't have to forego the peanuts, just bash them up.

Thanks soosin, I will put them on rough cut in the coffee grinder.