Subject: To feed or not to feed
Date: Jan 7 12:03:14 2004
From: Chris Thompson - THOMPCWT at dfw.wa.gov


I have to agree whole-heartedly with Morris regarding feeding birds in areas that have already been heavily impacted by anthropogenic activities. Most urban and suburban areas have been raped, polluted etc. by man's activities (including pet cats etc.). So...augmenting the natural food supply - especially during winter storms - seems only fair.

Chris Thompson
Research Scientist
WA. Dept. Fish and Wildlife

>>> "M. Sandvig" <naturebook2002 at yahoo.com> 01/07/04 11:46AM >>>
Hello Tweeters,

My neighborhood was developed a few years ago by taking down all the existing trees, building houses and planting small maple saplings. It is now more asphalt than greenery and most of the greenery is low-cut lawns. There is a water retention pond nearby full of bullfrogs and grass cuttings in the summer. The bullfrogs eat most of the native(?) aquatic life there. There are probably 10 PET cats on my street alone that people let wander. More days than not they have a nice gift of bird, mouse, or snake for me (that's hundreds of birds a year!) The land that hasn't been turned into houses (yet) has horses and sheep on it. I have always thought it humorous when people advise me to stop feeding birds ( I don't do much anyway-an occasional apple core for the robins) because of the impact on the "natural"populations. There is nothing native or natural about any of the cities we live in. By not feeding the birds you are at least as guilty of homogenizing the species comp!
osition
as an avid feeder. A bird house or "sloppy garden" is no different than a pile of bread crusts to the birds. I would say continue to feed birds or even start if you don't already. It's a good way to enjoy the company of birds. There's no reason to feel guilty, so don't let anyone steal your joy of seeing a family of chickadees at you peanut feeder tomorrow morning.

Morris Sandvig
Olympia


Looking for a great bird book?
naturebook.com




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