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As frosty mornings
become more rule than exception, people begin to think about feeding wild
birds. But every year a few people ask if feeding birds is a good idea.
"Won't birds become unnaturally dependent on our generosity?," Why feed
birds in the first place? Isn't there plenty of natural food out there?
Yes, there's almost always plenty of natural food available, but birds
are opportunists. They take advantage of all food sources. We feed birds
for our enjoyment. We welcome their company, their entertaining behavior,
their bright colors.
First , wild birds are extremely beneficial to a yard and those
who enjoy the great outdoors. Wild birds eat large quantities of insects,
and are one of the best natural means of keeping these pests under control
year-round.
Second, the varied and vibrant colors of many birds brighten up
any yard and add value to landscaping. Birds add liveliness and music to
gardens in all seasons. Birds also keep children occupied. Children can
acquire an early interest in nature by watching them flock to a backyard
feeder. Bird feeding is also extremely educational. There is a trend back
towards nature, and wild bird feeding is any easy start.
Third, wild Birds are wild creatures so they bring an element of
nature right into a our yard, up close, where it can be observed
every day. And though it may seem counter-intuitive, wild birds do not
become dependent on feeders because they are highly mobile and naturally
depend on patchy food supplies. Their survival depends on their inborn ability to find unpredictabe patches of food. When one patch
is exhausted, they move on to another. In the course of birds' daily
lives, they visit many different food patches and thus are continually
watching changing food supplies.
Feeders are simply reliable food patches, which birds readily use.
If you take a vacation in January, your birds will find natural foods or
other feeders. When you return and refill the feeders, bird are back
within 48 hours because they continually monitor known food
sources. Though it may seem that birds are at feeders all day long and
thus appear to become dependent, observations of banded birds
indicate that, though you may see birds at feeders all day long, they
are not the same individuals. They move throughout the day to visit many
food sources.
From the Bird conservatory:
But if you do feed wild birds, be sure feeders are filled during
severe winter weather (extreme cold and heavy snow) and ice storms. Ice
storms are most devastating to birds because food is literally locked
away, and if this persists for more than 36 hours, birds will surely
starve. Unlike mammals, which can lay on fat reserves to get through
extended periods of winter weathers, winter birds must eat enough each
day to get them through the night. At dawn the metabolic furnace is empty,
and birds must eat to survive. Two days with no food due to ice coverage
is certain to kill many birds.
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Music on this page
Sparrow In
the Treetop
Sparrow in the treetop, sparrow in the treetop
Though he loves his mate
Sparrow in the treetop, sparrow in the treetop
Scared of goin' home because it's too darn late
Don't look at me, sweetheart, with scorn in your eyes
Been out all night, gonna tell you no lies
Stopped in one place, heard them singin' a song
Like a lonely sparrow, started singin' along
Just singin'
Sparrow in the treetop, sparrow in the treetop
Though he loves his mate
Sparrow in the treetop, sparrow in the treetop
Scared of goin' home because it's too darn late
In walked a blonde and, dear, she asked me to dance
I told that blonde that there wasn't a chance
I love my kids and my beautiful wife
That's the honest truth, dear, and I swear by my life
Sparrow in the treetop, sparrow in the treetop
Though he loves his mate, Sparrow in the treetop, sparrow
in the treetop, Scared of goin' home because it's too darn late
There's things I am sweetheart, and things that I ain't
'cause I'm a man and a man is no saint
Won't you forgive 'cause I'm tellin' you true
I was in the tavern only thinkin' of you
Just singin'
Sparrow in the treetop, sparrow in the treetop
Though he loves his mate
Sparrow in the treetop, sparrow in the treetop
Scared of goin' home because it's too darn late
Just singin'
Sparrow in the treetop, sparrow in the treetop
Though he loves his mate,
Sparrow in the treetop, sparrow in the treetop,
Scared of goin' home because it's TOO DARN LATE!!
Words and Music by Bob Merrill |
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