Mike,

You raise some most interesting questions about feeding the birds. There
are some disadvantages, as you note. But there would also appear to be some
benefits for the birds.

I would like to know, in addition to the Audobon article you reference, if
there is any academic concensus on the question of whether feeding birds
provides the birds a net benefit or disadvantage.

To me there is not an obvious intuitive answer. The birds seem to be
casting their vote by coming around my feeders. And there are a few
Sharp-shinned hawks that seem to like this whole setup also. R/Steve


>From: "Peter Sullins" <thesullinsfamily at earthlink.net>
>Reply-To: "Peter Sullins" <thesullinsfamily at earthlink.net>
>To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>Subject: Fw: Bird feeding according to Audubon
>Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2000 21:04:08 -0800
>
>FYI...
>
>Peter Sullins
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Michael Melius <mmmelius at HOTMAIL.COM>
>To: <AUDUBON-CHAT at LIST.AUDUBON.ORG>
>Sent: Friday, January 07, 2000 11:06 AM
>Subject: Bird feeding according to Audubon
>
>
> > The latest Audubon magazine has an article on feeding
>birds. The article
> > can be summarized thus: Not much is known about the
>effects of feeding, but
> > it appears that it is not essential to the birds fed,
>while it does expose
> > them to some risks (diseases, cats, collisions with
>windows). It serves to
> > bring wild birds closer to people.
> >
> > No mention is made of that fact that the birds are
>federally protected
> > species. If it were any other group of people doing this,
>say hunters,
> > birders would be having a fit about it. Feeders are
>luring birds
> > unnecessarily to their deaths, basically for the
>entertainment of birders.
> >
> > An important aspect of bird feeding that wasn't discussed
>is where all the
> > "billion pounds of birdseed" are grown. A lot of that
>feed, to use a
> > chicken farmer's term, is grown on what used to be
>prairie. You don't see
> > many "WatchList" species at feeders. Meanwhile, many that
>are on the list
> > once nested where birdseed is now grown. Next time you're
>birding in SD,
> > let me know and I'll show you millet fields where
>Long-billed Curlews used
> > to nest.
> >
> > I've heard that 5% of the sunflower acreage goes for
>birdseed. I'd bet the
> > percentage is even higher for millet. We can pretend
>those percentages are
> > insignificant, or we can act on their existence, and seek
>to reduce our part
> > of that consumption.
> >
> > It won't be easy. Speaking for myself, bird feeding was
>addictive. It's a
> > feel-good activity with lots of people promoting it and
>profiting from it.
> > I am asking birders to join me in desisting from feeding,
>for the sake of
> > the birds and for the sake of the land, the habitats, lost
>to grow the seed.
> > That would send a message, a fine example, to the rest
>of the world about
> > the connection we make between consumption and the
>environment. If we
> > don't, we're just like most people, and don't want to be
>bothered with the
> > ecological effects of our actions.
> >
> > Bobolinks don't nest in sunflower fields. Let wild be
>wild. Those are my
> > rallying cries.
> >
> > Michael Melius
> > HCR 89 Box 275
> > Hermosa, SD 57744
> > 605.255.4766
> > ______________________________________________________
> > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
> >
>

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