Subject: [Tweeters] Re: house finch eye disease
Date: Feb 28 17:41:34 2005
From: Kelly Cassidy - lostriver at completebbs.com


Hi Guy,

I'm always open to being proved wrong (and have been many times).

However, I'm puzzled as to why House Finch expansion in 1961 is inconsistent
with bird feeding. People were feeding birds in the 1960s. I found this
site on the Web by a manufacturer (Wagner's)of wild bird seed.

http://www.wagners.com/history.html

Here is an excerpt:

"Although people have been feeding wild birds for centuries, the joy of
feeding special seed mixtures started to develop in the United States during
the 1930's. Wagner's concentrated on developing this growing wild bird food
market. In the beginning, bird feeding was strictly a winter activity so a
WINTERLIFE? Brand was introduced. As the activity progressed, the FOUR
SEASONS? Brand was marketed and promoted for year-round bird feeding.
Recognizing that the high cost of domestic sunflower was discouraging
potential customers, Wagner's located and imported a unique black oil
sunflower seed from Africa in the early 1950's. Today, this oil sunflower
has become the most widely used type of sunflower in the bird feeding
industry.

"The Wagner organization continued to introduce wild bird food into new
retail formats and to expand nationally with innovative, industry leading
products. Their orange flavored seed was introduced in 1960. As the first
flavored and vitamin enriched mixture on the market, NUTRI-FRUIT? is still a
major selling item today! In 1972, Wagner's launched its specially
formulated SONGBIRD SEEDS?. Other inventive Wagner's products include bird
bells, HONEYBELL? and FRUIT'N BERRY? bell, which have a unique netting
system with a built in twist tie. Wagner's introduced the first private
label wild bird food plus many unique blends for specific birds. Innovation
continues today with the recent development of a complete line of pet bird
and small animal foods. Today, Wagner's? is the Number 1 selling brand in
the country. Manufacturing plants are strategically located in Oakes, North
Dakota; Flagler, Colorado; Wellington, Ohio; and Milford, Illinois."

Of course, the popularity of bird feeding and the number of House Finches
may be purely coincidental. When I see giant bird feeders supporting
hundreds, possibly thousands, of House Finches in the winter, I have a hard
time believing there's not a strong link between finches and feeders.

On the other hand, I no longer believe (as I once did) there is a strong
link between feeders and House Sparrows. House Sparrows have been
associated with people for centuries. Suitable buildings seem to be a big
factor in that relationship. House Sparrows are declining over much of the
US and Europe, possibly because of newer buildings that have fewer nest and
roost sites. Fewer insects in developed areas may also be a factor. House
Sparrow juveniles need to be fed insects.

Kelly Cassidy
Pullman, WA
mailto:lostriver at completebbs.com