Subject: Don't feed the siskins
Date: Jan 9 12:32:24 1999
From: avocet - avocet at halcyon.com


Now, just to get the topic off laser-pointers, I would like to add this provocative comment on the siskin thread. In all the discussion of salmonella and feeders, it appears that two basic conclusions can be reached -
1) feeders contribute to the spread of salmonella, which is causing serious problems in the siskin population and 2) it is very difficult to keep your feeders clean enough to avoid contributing to this problem. I am amazed that in all the solutions offered, only one person hinted at the obvious - the best solution would be if people would stop trying to feed siskins. It seems to be doing more harm than good. This seems like a clear case of the birder's self-interest winning out over the bird's welfare, like playing tapes during nesting season. ABA has a birder's code of ethics, what about a feeder code of ethics?

I think birders tend to go through an evolution of thinking - first there's "Gee, birds are fun to watch!". Then comes, "I could attract more birds to my yard if I had a feeder." Then comes the realization that feeders have problems - cats, rats, squirrels, starlings, house sparrows, salmonella, finch disease, etc. Much effort then goes into "fixing" the feeder problems by altering the feeder setup - I have done this myself to solve the squirrel problem.

I feel like maybe the next step is realizing that feeders aren't really necessary and contribute to these problems - particularly when the population of a local species is at risk. I have come to feel over time that a much better approach is to landscape your yard to provide birds with what they need without feeding them directly. It takes longer initially, but you have a number of added benefits. The landscaping does more than just feed them, it provides them with cover and nesting habitat as well. One of the main reasons I have gotten to dislike feeders is it seems so artificial - it's a lot more fun for me to see the birds doing what they naturally do than clustering around a feeder. Plus you have the added satisfaction of knowing that they were attracted to your yard through natural means - this makes me feel like I'm succeeding better at being part of the ecosystem rather than just adding more artificial elements. Plus it's less work once the plantings are done - you can sit back with your morning coffee and watch the birds enjoy your yard without running to the store for seed and cleaning out the feeders - yuck!

I have gotten to the point where I only provide suet feeders and usually only when the weather is very cold or it's snowing. They're a lot less mess - there usually isn't any waste and the suet cages stay clean.

Just some "food" for thought - no offense intended to anyone, only some new things to think about. - Teresa Michelsen, Kenmore