Bird feeding has become an increasingly popular hobby over the past few decades. It is estimated that over 50 million Americans put up bird feeders in their yards. Watching colorful songbirds visit feeders can brighten up anyone’s day. However, there are disagreements among experts regarding the impacts of bird feeding on bird populations and the environment. Here we look at the key pros and cons of bird feeders.
Pros of Bird Feeders
1. Supplemental Food Source for Birds
Providing food for birds through feeders gives them an additional source of calories and nutrients. This supplemental food can be particularly important in the winter when natural food sources may be scarce. Bird feeding allows birds to maintain healthier weights and improve their chances of survival during harsh weather. It can also support birds during spring and fall migration when they need plenty of energy to fly long distances.
In addition, feeding birds may help populations recover after events that reduce natural food supplies like severe storms, droughts, or wildfires. For example, Project FeederWatch, a citizen science bird monitoring program run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, found that bird numbers rebounded more quickly after a major hurricane in areas with more bird feeders.
2. Attract Birds to Backyards
Bird feeders are very effective at drawing in a variety of bird species to backyards and gardens. This provides people with enjoyable up-close views of birds that they may not otherwise see. It also allows photographers, artists, and naturalists to observe bird behaviors more easily.
Studies have shown that the abundance and diversity of bird species increase in yards with bird feeders, particularly when multiple types of food are offered. Feeders placed near vegetation for cover attract the greatest number of species. Even small urban yards and balconies can host a surprising variety of birds with well-stocked feeders.
3. Connect People to Nature
Interacting with backyard birds through feeding promotes a person’s connection with nature and caring for the environment. It can inspire children and adults to take up birdwatching as a hobby. Bird feeding gets people outdoors paying closer attention to what birds live around them.
Enjoying daily visits to the bird feeder may motivate individuals to learn more about birds and make gardening and landscaping choices that better support wildlife. People engaged with helping birds are also more likely to advocate for larger-scale bird and wildlife conservation efforts.
4. Citizen Science Contributions
Bird feeding combined with reporting sightings to citizen science projects enhances scientific data collection on bird populations. For example, information submitted by tens of thousands of feeder watchers to the Project FeederWatch project run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology helps scientists track broadscale movements of winter bird populations and long-term changes in bird numbers.
Other citizen science projects like the Great Backyard Bird Count, YardMap, and eBird also rely on bird feeding enthusiasts to contribute observations. These large datasets help researchers study bird health, distributions, migration patterns, and responses to habitat change and environmental threats.
Cons of Bird Feeders
1. Risk of Disease Transmission
Bird feeders can unfortunately facilitate the spread of diseases among congregating birds. Salmonellosis, trichomonosis, aspergillosis, avian pox, and conjunctivitis are examples of diseases transmitted through contaminated feeders, bird droppings, and crowding. These diseases lead to illness and sometimes death.
Simple practices can significantly reduce disease risks around feeders. These include:
- Regular cleaning with a 10% bleach solution
- Spacing feeders widely apart
- Providing separate feeding stations for species like doves/pigeons
- Removing old, moldy food
- Using mesh bottoms or trays to catch seed debris
However, even well-maintained feeders likely increase disease transmission compared to natural feeding situations. Scientists recommend temporarily removing feeders during outbreaks to allow bird populations time to recover.
2. May Disrupt Migratory Behavior
While supplemental food helps migrating birds refuel, some studies raise concerns that abundant feeders could influence migration patterns. A few observations suggest that some species like goldfinches may shorten migration distances or delay travel because of readily available feeder food.
However, research findings are mixed on whether feeders have a significant impact on migratory behaviors for most species. Some experts argue migration is driven by innate genetic programming and changing seasonal daylight cues, regardless of food availability. More large-scale studies are needed to determine if major changes occur.
3. Can Concentrate Birds Unnaturally
Feeders often aggregate birds together in higher densities and larger flocks than typically seen naturally. While this is part of the appeal for bird enthusiasts, unnaturally high concentrations may increase competition and aggression as dominant species exclude others from feeders.
Birds at feeders may also become more susceptible to window collisions in areas with many buildings. Careful placement of feeders and using deterrents on windows can help reduce collision risks.
4. May Affect Foraging Abilities
Easy access to plentiful feeder food could potentially cause birds to lose some of their natural foraging skills and food search behaviors over generations. However, no major studies have been conducted looking at survival impacts on birds from feeders.
Any negative effects are likely outweighed by the supplemental nutrition benefits of feeders for most bird species. Feeders may play an especially crucial role in helping birds survive seasonal food shortages and severe weather.
5. Can Support Overpopulated Species
Abundant backyard bird feeding sometimes gets blamed for contributing to overpopulation of certain aggressive species that dominate feeders. Birds like European starlings, house sparrows, grackles, and brown-headed cowbirds are considered overpopulated nuisance species in many areas.
While feeders alone are unlikely to cause overpopulation, they may exacerbate issues in locations where overabundant species have limited predators and competitors. Targeted feeding to attract other native species can help balance feeder diversity.
6. Feed Quality and Content Concerns
Low-quality seed mixes sold for bird feed contain lots of cheap filler seeds that birds do not prefer. These fillers get wasted and can accumulate messily underneath feeders.
Another concern is feeders providing foods with poor nutritional value compared to birds’ natural diets. For example, many seed mixes are deficient in important nutrients like calcium, sodium, and vitamin A. Thankfully more feeders today offer nutritious options like suet, fruit, and nectar that better supplement natural food sources.
7. Can Attract Unwanted Wildlife
Bird feeders may attract unwanted visitors like bears, raccoons, deer, and rodents, particularly if feed falls on the ground. These animals compete with birds for feeder food and can damage property. Raccoons and rats drawn to feeders may prey on birds using the feeders at night.
Strategies to deter unwanted wildlife include:
- Using specialized squirrel-resistant feeders and pole baffles
- Bringing feeders in at night
- Installing motion-activated lights/sprinklers
- Using hot pepper suet or other repellent feed additives
8. native predator populations
Well-stocked bird feeders provide gathering places that may attract predators like cats and hawks looking for an easy meal. This unnaturally concentrates predation pressure on visiting birds.
Locating feeders near protective shrubs and trees helps give birds quick escape cover. Cat owners should keep pets indoors to protect feeder birds. Predation is a natural part of most ecosystems, but feeders should not tip the balance too far.
Conclusion
Most experts agree that bird feeding provides important supplemental food for birds that outweighs disease risks with proper feeding practices. Feeders boost public enjoyment of nature and inspire bird conservation actions. While questions remain about subtle migration or behavior impacts, studies to date suggest feeders do not cause major disruptions.
With careful placement and maintenance, bird feeders can attract a diversity of species without heavily supporting overpopulated nuisance birds. Using a variety of nutritious foods, moving locations seasonally, and cleaning regularly minimizes potential downsides.
Bird feeding connects people with nature right in their own yards while helping sustain bird populations. As long as best practices are followed, bird feeders do more good than harm.
