What is the ecological justification (if any) for bird feeders?

Question

Like many people, we have bird feeders, and a bird-bath. We also have a feeding station (replenished in the mornings only) that attracts squirrels and chipmunks and some of the larger birds. During the winter, we are religious about keeping the bird feeders full, and during the few heavy snows we have in our area, we shovel a patch on our patio and put out extra seed.

We are selective about what we feed. We don't put out food for raccoons or foxes or deer, all of which we have in fair abundance. Still, we're feeding wildlife in our yard, which in National Parks we're sternly enjoined not to do.

Is there an ecological justification for feeding birds, beyond our own selfish pleasure in watching a patch of our yard alive with beautiful creatures?

Please specify the geographical area of your answer. The answer(s) may differ depending on the ecosystem.

Answer 1

If we exclude the birdwatching explanation Shem gives, the only possible ecological reason for a bird feeder is to counteract the negative effect we have on the bird's habitat by having our house there.

This doesn't explain why we only tend to feed "cute" animals - if we are to be honest about ecological support, we should analyse impact data on all the species we have negatively impacted in our locale and feed them all no matter if they are cute birds, hedgehogs etc or spiders, insects and slugs... And very few people will do that, sadly!

In reality, all life impacts other life. Human occupation has negative impact on some species and positive on others. We cannot really justify bird feeding from an ecological standpoint.

Personally, I have nesting boxes for finches and tits in the big trees at the bottom of my garden, bee-friendly plants and insect "hotels" in my garden, but I also have a cat that actively hunts, I dissuade the foxes and deer from coming too close and I dispose of snails and slugs - so even though I am ecologically aware, I'm as biased towards animals I like as the next person.

Answer 2

The answers to this question may differ based on location, but I can tell you that in my part of the world there is legislation in place for controlling populations of certain birds (as well as other pesky critters).

Bird feeders are for bird watchers who want to attract birds into their yards. I'm the other type of people. I have raspberries, saskatoons, cherries, and apples growing in my yard, so I want the birds to stay away. I have bird nets protecting my trees and bushes, owl decoys to scare the birds away (as do many of my neighbours), and a list of all the birds considered "nuisance birds" under Alberta legislation that anyone can legally dispose off using good husbandry.

There is no ecological justification for feeding birds, they don't need the food, the vast majority of the birds eating from your feeders aren't threatened species. Odds are many of the birds you're feeding are in the same boat as sparrows, starlings, magpies and rock doves are in Alberta; they're considered nuisance birds, and do damage to the crops meant for people. Providing them with food only increases their numbers, and gives added cause for agriculturalist to cull them in order to control their numbers.

If you enjoy having the birds in your yard, that's fine. But you're not helping them. In fact. you're doing the opposite. Some of the birds you so generously feed likely become dependant on the food you provide them to the point where they would struggle if you were to stop.

Bird feeders are for bird watchers. They aren't for the birds, they're for the people who fill the feeders and like to watch the birds. There's nothing wrong with feeding the birds, just keep in mind that there are also lots of places where there's nothing wrong with killing them just to reduce their numbers (or teaching them a lesson for ruining all my cherries).

Answer 3

the ecological footprint of growing and transporting bird feed is massive

If we want to feed birds then convert lawn to nature habitat - shrubs, trees, wild flowers plants habitat piles, leaf piles ertc

Answer 4

According to an article in Newscientist there have been surveys of what birds visit bird feeders in the UK since the 1970s and over that time birds that use bird feeders have increased more than birds that do not visit feeders (in urban areas), this shows that bird feeders do have a positive impact on birds that use them.

The article also states that the greater diversity of food that you put out the greater diversity of birds it attracts.

The article is behind a pay wall although you can start reading it. The main relevant points I have listed above.

I have have found that if I change the food I put out for the birds or where I put it then you attract different birds. If I just put out food in feeders then I attract birds like blue tits, great tits and long tail tits but if I also put feed on the garden then I also see robins, dunnocks and black birds where I am in the UK.