A lot of people like to feed birds. More than 40 percent of Americans make it a regular habit. But a nibble of backyard suet or peck at the communal feeder may hold hidden risks for birds, reports a recent study in Ecology Letters. Daniel Becker , a Ph. So Becker and his team analyzed what was out there—20 published research papers on host-pathogen interactions in human-fed wild populations—finding intentional feeding changed wild animal behavior and diet enough to give parasites and viruses the upper hand.
Out of these 20 studies, only a handful considered feathered species, but none were happy cases. That birds often crowd into tight spaces to get at the tasty morsels also makes it easier for pathogens to leap between birds. Feeders, they found, have contributed to outbreaks of House Finch Eye Disease Mycoplasmal conjunctivitis and virulent strains of the respiratory disease Trichomoniasis check out this old-school video explaining the malady.
In one study, Spanish White storks skipped their typical North-African winter migration in favor of sticking around their landfill-loaded breeding grounds. In summer, many will introduce their young to feeders and birdbaths. And it is exciting to see a youngster able to feed itself, begging parents to be fed. Feeders may attract rodents, including squirrels and rats — and the black bear may become a problem, regardless of the time of day.
Most birds do not need additional feeding during the summer, if you want to feed, do it for your own pleasure. Q: For the past week, we have had a flock, well over , of blackbirds swarm into our backyard. Some can be identified as red-winged blackbirds. They move in unison from one spot to another as if they were being led by a band conductor. They stay for about 10 minutes before they move on. Do you have any thoughts on the phenomenon?
We have never seen this before. Thank you in advance for your thoughts. A: Every year around the beginning of spring, when the snow has left or nearly so, and there is lawn showing, flocks of blackbirds, mostly European starlings, invade our yard and adjacent mowed field.
They arrive in search of grubs of some kind and whatever insects may be available. These birds will disperse very soon to pair up, or at least those looking for a mate will. Others will continue going wherever they were headed. In August, flocks of starlings gather with offspring in even greater numbers for a few days. Some will bring their offspring to a suet feeder I keep year-round. As soon as I notice these gluttons, I take in the feeder until they leave. I believe all life is important, but these alien intruders arriving from Europe in the later s have done tremendous damage to native species and do not deserve a handout.
It just occurred to me that these birds may not be starlings. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile.
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