Take Me To Your Seeder

Umbra on feeding birds 19

Dearest Umbra,

Every winter I take pleasure in putting out birdseed to feed the backyard wildlife. I purchase the easily available, run-of-the-mill, found-at-my-local-hardware-store type of seed. My question is, in the big picture ... am I doing more harm than good? If the feed I am using is grown conventionally, am I doing a greater harm to the ecosystem as a whole? Or, on balance, is it better to provide free nosh to the locals?

Sincerely,
Rebecca in northwest Pennsylvania

Dearest Rebecca,

Bird feeders can be seedy hangouts.

Photo: iStockphoto

A tiny conundrum. I could find no definitive study on this topic, so we must wing our way through the eco-thicket. I don't think the ecological impacts of birdseed production are so bad that filling feeders must cease. Hobbies that involve regular purchases of supplies will always have an ecological impact. Stuff has an ecological impact. You have to weigh the benefits within your conscience in this case, but let's go over some minutiae.

Wild birds can survive without human assistance (it's bird welfare, I tell you). Bird food is technically unnecessary, bird food -- sunflower seeds, millet, corn, etc. -- requires all the inputs of conventional agriculture, if people did not buy the bird food to begin with, then maybe water, pesticides (which might be harming other birds), fertilizers, fuel, and packaging would not be used to make the bird food ... hard not to conclude that you should stop buying bird food. I mean: you are doing more harm to the ecosystem than if you were not feeding birds. Except, maybe in your desperation for a hobby you would pick up drag racing, and if bird feeding were the only way to stop the drag-racing addiction, then bird feeding would be better.

There are potentially harmful impacts of bird feeding. One mentioned above is that birds could be harmed directly or indirectly during the growing of the bird food, through pesticides or habitat disturbance. Organic feed would potentially solve both impacts, but not certainly. If you're considering organic feed, it is available online, though an excellent study has concluded that birds do not prefer organic feed (by Danielle, a fifth-grader in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.). You can harm backyard birds by taking a slovenly approach to feeder maintenance and contributing to the spread of diseases such as trichomoniasis. Backyard feeders should be cleaned fortnightly with soap, water, and a weak bleach solution. Old, moldering food must be removed. Cats must be deterred from killing the birds, preferably by complete confinement within the home. Birdbaths should be emptied and cleansed daily (this will also stop mosquito breeding within).

Let's just finish up with a little more discussion of birdseed, because agriculture is fascinating. The basic, good birdseed is black-oil sunflower seed. Sunflowers are one of the only agricultural crops, and the only oil seed crop, native to what is now the United States of America. The seeds are used mainly for their oily properties, which are excellent -- mild flavor, high smoke point -- although they do also have "confectionary" uses, i.e., we eat them whole as snacks. Birdseeds are basically the almost lowest-quality oil seeds. We can thank the Russians for the current popularity of sunflower oil, as they developed the extra-oily varieties we use today. One more little tidbit: sunflower oil, which is also used in some biofuel mixes, contains energy content equal to 93 percent of the energy content of No. 2 diesel fuel. Zounds.

Confectionally,
Umbra

 

Yours is to wonder why, hers is to answer (or try). Send your green-living questions to Umbra.

Umbra Fisk is Grist Research Associate II, Hardcover and Periodicals Unit, floors 2B-4B.

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  1. wayneluke Posted 4:58 am
    30 Jul 2007

    Native PlantsIf you plant flora that is native to your area then you can provide food for native birds and insects without resorting to as much birdfeed. Also you can provide ponds in your yard with fish to control mosquitos instead of birdbaths. If you have moving water and shallow creek like areas for the birds to frolic in, you can provide much enjoyment in your home while controlling mosquitos.
    You can even have your yard certified as a wildlife habitat. For ideas, finding native plants for your area and certification check out:

    http://www.nwf.org/backyard/

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  2. Christina Posted 5:08 am
    30 Jul 2007

    Plant native plants for the birdsThe best way I've found to attract birds (and other wildlife) in the yard is to plant native plants that have seeds or berries on them that birds eat.  This brings in birds such as warblers that don't eat packaged bird seed and generally does not attract undesirables such as starlings.  Not only that, but if you replace exotic plants and lawn with natives, you don't need pesticides or fertilizer (and cut down on mowing, which reduces pollution and saves energy).
    Native plants can be tough to track down in some areas, but if you contact a native plant society in your area, you will find lots of people happy to help with what to plant for wildlife.
    To get an idea of what has been seen in my own yard in Florida over the 4 to 5 years I've been landscaping with native plants, visit my web gallery -- here: http://cgstudios.smugmug.com/gallery/1466565
    and here: http://cgstudios.smugmug.com/gallery/344221

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  3. pamgreiner Posted 8:23 am
    30 Jul 2007

    Create a balanced eco-system in your yardI am a firm believer in keeping it natural. By planting non-invasive native plants and a properly installed water feature such as a pond you can create an environment that will attract wildlife and  keep out unwanted pests as well (if maintained properly). I also live in PA and find that my coneflowers, sunflowers, and weeping crab apple (with berry like fruit) attract birds year round - the trick is to not prune them at the end of the season. I agree that all of the work that goes into harvesting the bird seed is probably doing more harm than feeding the birds will. We have a motto - keep it simple stupid. The right plant material and habitat will attract all the friends could you ever want!

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  4. Greta Posted 11:47 am
    30 Jul 2007

    Another consequence...with self-feeders is that they attract other animals, such as racoons and (in my neighborhood) peacocks, which people consider a "nuisance".  While I don't consider animals acting naturally a nuisance, neighbors might not agree.  And, they might have no problem calling animal services to trap them or even kill the animals themselves.
    Feeding animals, large enough or easy enough to trap, sets them up for pending doom. Tolerant neighbors, and even you, move away.  New neighbors might not share your love of nature.
    The idea of growing food for wildlife is the most humane solution. Also, keeps them from relying upon direct human interaction.
    If you absolutely could not resist feeding wild birds, I think that you should consider putting out only what could be eaten in its entirety during a feeding period, leaving no leftovers behind.
    This same strategy should be used when putting food outside for your pets, or feral cats.

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  5. guysmiley00 Posted 12:24 pm
    30 Jul 2007

    What about habitat replacement?I think we're overlooking a vital point here, and that is the habitat and food sources lost to wild bird populations when an area is developed. Surely, any effort to replace these lost resources has some environmental value that isn't being considered here.

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  6. dbeerslayer Posted 2:43 pm
    30 Jul 2007

    bird feedingI have a question.

    Why do bird baths need to be cleaned and refilled every day?  My bird bath is a frisbee nailed to the porch.  The sparrows seem to like it just fine.  If they preffer fresh tap water they could just go back to the nest and turn on the faucet.

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  7. latenac Posted 10:27 pm
    30 Jul 2007

    survival of birds"I think we're overlooking a vital point here, and that is the habitat and food sources lost to wild bird populations when an area is developed. Surely, any effort to replace these lost resources has some environmental value that isn't being considered here."
    I have to agree. We only feed birds during the winter. Putting out bird feed increases a bird's survival rate by 1/3. It only takes about 1 big bag of sunflower seeds for the winter and we buy suet made by our CSA. We also plant and have plants that are attractive to birds and other wildlife in our yard during the spring, summer and fall. Even the NWF recommends bird feeders as part of the mix to have your yard certified.
    As for feeders attracting undesirables, you're going to attract undesirables by planting native plants to make your yard more attractive to birds. It's part of the ecosystem balance.
    I could plant blueberry bushes for the birds in my area but that would also attract bears and other wildlife that likes blueberries. As the NWF will tell you, you want to balance your ecosystem and not limit it to only the "good" species that you want. If you do limit it you throw the ecosystem off balance. You have to take the good with the bad.
    You don't have to empty out your bird bath everyday. You have to keep it clean though so bad things don't develop in it. One reason to empty it out every day is to prevent mosquitoes from growing. But there are other ways of preventing that.

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  8. wayneluke Posted 11:21 pm
    30 Jul 2007

    Cleaning Bird BathsThey need to be cleaned regularly to keep down mosquito populations and the diseases those pests carry. Traditionally this would be done by running water and fish but your bird bath lacks both of those options. Cleaning is seen as cheaper and better for the environment than using anti-mosquito disks that contain bacteria that attack the pests.

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  9. TheSSG Posted 12:53 am
    31 Jul 2007

    Habitat Replacement IS keyI had always heard that bird feeding is actually good, because it helps to compensate the birds for their lost habitat from when Humans move in and level their homes.
    So I agree that this is being overlooked.
    And I also agree, planting Native Plants is a great idea...
    I don't know, with the DRASTIC rate of decline of songbirds (I heard on Wisconsin Public Radio that most species have dropped from 20-90% or so...), why WOULDN'T we want to help more of them survive?
    It would be as easy as popping in a few sunflower seeds of your own...Not to mention, Sunflowers are REALLY fricking cool...

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  10. Gene Posted 1:53 am
    31 Jul 2007

    Bird feedingMy neighbor is an avid bird feeder.  Twice daily she indiscriminately scatters feed over her 3 acres plus having multiple bird feeders in the trees.  The squirrel population has just skyrocketed and we have about 30 crows that never leave the area.  The harm her feeding is  doing is numerous.  Drawing large groups of birds where disease/and or injury is more likiely and  the exclusion of smaller, less aggressive wildlife such as quail and thrashers.  I plant most native plants and trees on my property and one day it'll be quite a haven for the critters and us.  I think there have been some excellent suggestions on this subject and I've enjoyed reading them.  

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  11. mjgoeglein's avatar

    mjgoeglein Posted 3:12 am
    31 Jul 2007

    Bird FeedingI grew up in the country on a property surrounded by woods, with a creek, blueberry bushes, fruit trees, etc.  We always had a birdfeeder, and I clearly remember the fun of searching our bird books to identify someone new visiting our feeder, or lying in front of the record player with my mother, playing an bird call record and trying to identify the new owl hoot she had heard the night before.  Until I put out my own feeder a few years ago, I had no idea how much of that early naturalism had stuck with me, and I have been so excited to see so many familiar friends alive and well in the middle of a city.
    I make a substantial effort to live as lightly, sustainably, and responsibly as I can, which means constantly re-evaluating my choices as I learn new things.  I definitely agree with planting native plants, and I am ashamed to admit that I have never thought about looking for organic feed--and will from now on.  However, I think it is important to point out the invaluable gift that I was given as a child:  by virtue of our birdfeeder I was encouraged to watch and wonder at the beauty and importance of nature for nature's sake and was allowed an exciting, up-close view.  Watching all of the vivid personalities at work in the bird world is not only captivating but accessible to people in urban areas.  Personally, I find it hard to quantify the value of engendering that spark of interest in and love of nature in a child, friend, or family member.

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  12. amc89 Posted 4:37 am
    31 Jul 2007

    Thanks for mentioning keeping cats insideBetter for the birds (and small mammals), better for the cats. Visit http://www.safecats.org .

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  13. saratogan Posted 5:35 am
    31 Jul 2007

    feeding birdsI use to feed birds religiously.  Got my parents and a brother hooked on it.  It was great seeing the idfferent varieties and the numbers of each species arriving daily.  Within the last 4 or 5 years, I started noticing eye disease with the finches, bald heads on the cardinals, etc.  Although I am about #18,000 with NWF Backyard Habitat, I wondered about the pro's and con's of feeding the birds and whether such activity might change their feeding habits and become dependent upon the food source.  Finally, I gave up the feeders - cleanliness issue being foremost, cost second, and concerns about altering natural processes.  I have started planting more indigenous plant species that birds, butterflies, and insects use.  My hope that I provide a more sustainable habitat.  Now my problem is the herd of deer that overbrowse the yard now.  I live in the city in mid-atlantic and see more deer in my yard then I use to in the country.  And I don't get to see the 12 to 20 different bird species everyday like I use to.  This is the Ying and Yang of existence, is it not?

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  14. latenac Posted 6:21 am
    31 Jul 2007

    dependencyWe worried about dependency as well when we put our feeders up. But the average bird only gets about 25-30% of their daily food from a feeder even in winter. If you notice, birds start to disappear from feeders in the spring once bugs and other more tasty things come out. And we take ours down then b/c we dont' want to encourage bears to visit.

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  15. Mary Gilbert Posted 7:11 am
    31 Jul 2007

    Feeding birds in winterSome months ago I attended a lecture on urban forest health (not so good) given by Peter Alden, author of the National Audubon Society Field guide to New England.  He says that feeding migratory birds through the winter interrupts their migration patterns, and that in some species the knowledge of how to migrate is lost as generations replace each other.  He adds that this is not helpful to species survival.  
    Does anyone know more about this?

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  16. latenac Posted 11:36 pm
    31 Jul 2007

    feeding winter birds.The Audubon Society says no that's not true birds don't migrate based on availability of food. It has to do with length of day and other seasonal changes.
    http://magazine.audubon.org/backyard/backyard0001.html

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  17. estark Posted 7:07 am
    01 Aug 2007

    re: cleaning bird baths and moreKeeping birdbaths clean goes beyond keeping the mosquito population down. It's also very important so that birds, who often drink from them, don't get sick from molds and other organisms that may be in the water. I regularly scrub mine with a stiff brush every week or two, without bleach or other strong chemicals, and it stays quite clean. While I'm on the subject, birdbaths should be shallow, so that even tiny birds can use them without fear.
    Birdfeeders, if you must use them, should also be cleaned at least twice a month, particularly in wet weather, or you could be causing illness in the birds. This is particularly true for hummingbird feeders -- they should be cleaned every 3-4 days, when the sugar solution is changed.
    Someone mentioned that birds' migration may be screwed up because of well-meaning bird feeding.  Here in Oregon, we have Anna's hummingbirds overwintering every year. I've read that this resulted from hummingbird feeders that were left out in the autumn/winter months, which induced the birds to stay all winter (they normally winter in Calif). Although my yard is filled with native plants and the hummingbirds also eat insects and spiders and are able to lower their body temp to adapt, there are some times when it is so damn cold that I believe my feeders have saved some from death when the temperatures were abnormally low (yes, I run around thawing out the frozen feeders every hour or so during those frigid days).
    Simply supply cover, clean water and food (native plants are always best) and you will be rewarded with many avian visitors -- just think like mother nature would.

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  18. masbury Posted 2:40 am
    07 Aug 2007

    SunflowersPlanted a few sunflowers one year; they re-seed and come back each spring. Cardinals come by to check them out every few days. No work! No chemicals! A tiny bit of habitat!

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  19. Gene Posted 12:35 pm
    22 Feb 2008

    bird feedersI thought I had something new to add but after reading all this great commentary, I doubt it.  One, I have always been fascinated with wildlife.  I love to just observe and my family never used bird feeders.  So, that could serve to assure some that people will have a natural inclination to enjoying wildlife without offering handouts.  
        Two, I have found out, recently, that feeding the typical packaged birdfeed creates invasive plant seedlings that compete with our native plants.  Offering native habitat to wildlife, having them ingest the seeds, insures that with or without your handouts they are promoting the healthy, indigenous, diet they need.  
        My last post stated there were 30 crows in my area because of my animal loving neighbor and her daily "feedings".  Now we have about 75.  No more songbirds, quail, thrashers, the crows fight hard for their territory and even chase the hawks.  Gene

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