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When to Stop?
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jmcquown
May 19, 2012, 8:06:16 PM5/19/12
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Aside from the humming bird feeder and providing fresh water, at what point
in the spring/summer should you stop feeding the birds? I've read/heard
over the years food is plentiful in the wild when the temperatures and
preciptation have been great. If that's the case, there's no need to feed
them... or so I've read.
Aside from purely asthetic reasons (feeding birds = get to watch them!), is
there a season when one should truly let them fend for themselves for a
while? I ask because the cost of seed and suet is rather high. I don't
live very near lawn/garden place that has great bird food prices.
I do know from experience, even if there is no seed or suet, once you put it
out again they'll find it in no time! And they'll tell their friends and
family. Birds have a great long-distance plan ;)
What do you folks think? Are there seasons when you stop feeding the birds?
Jill
South of Beaufort, SC
in the spring/summer should you stop feeding the birds? I've read/heard
over the years food is plentiful in the wild when the temperatures and
preciptation have been great. If that's the case, there's no need to feed
them... or so I've read.
Aside from purely asthetic reasons (feeding birds = get to watch them!), is
there a season when one should truly let them fend for themselves for a
while? I ask because the cost of seed and suet is rather high. I don't
live very near lawn/garden place that has great bird food prices.
I do know from experience, even if there is no seed or suet, once you put it
out again they'll find it in no time! And they'll tell their friends and
family. Birds have a great long-distance plan ;)
What do you folks think? Are there seasons when you stop feeding the birds?
Jill
South of Beaufort, SC
Larry Sheldon
May 19, 2012, 8:23:28 PM5/19/12
to
I stop when I'm not home, too.
If prices go up much farther, we may have to stop--I draw a line at
theme eating here when I'm not.
--
Idioten aangeboden. Gratis af te halen.
h/t Dagelijkse Standaard
ICBM Data: http://g.co/maps/e5gmy
Tammie
May 20, 2012, 11:04:11 AM5/20/12
to
We are just one stop on a route they use daily. If that one stop is
gone, they'll certainly find something else. Once bugs are out and
flowers/trees start blooming, they have loads of natural food.
If you want to put your feeders away for the season, don't feel bad.
They'll do just fine without your stop along their way.
Tammie
Northwestern Ontario
Dickr
May 20, 2012, 6:17:18 PM5/20/12
to
On 5/20/2012 10:04 AM, Tammie wrote:
> Jill, birds will almost never become totally dependant on one's
> feeders. We are just one stop on a route they use daily. If that one
> stop is gone, they'll certainly find something else. Once bugs are out
> and flowers/trees start blooming, they have loads of natural food. If
> you want to put your feeders away for the season, don't feel bad.
> They'll do just fine without your stop along their way. Tammie
> Northwestern Ontario
When humans provide feeders for the birds, I think it's for human
> Jill, birds will almost never become totally dependant on one's
> feeders. We are just one stop on a route they use daily. If that one
> stop is gone, they'll certainly find something else. Once bugs are out
> and flowers/trees start blooming, they have loads of natural food. If
> you want to put your feeders away for the season, don't feel bad.
> They'll do just fine without your stop along their way. Tammie
> Northwestern Ontario
amusement. I love birds, and feed them all year, but if I don't feed them
for a couple of months they'll always return.
Dick in MN
Larry Sheldon
May 20, 2012, 9:13:36 PM5/20/12
to
Rick
May 21, 2012, 9:59:59 AM5/21/12
to
On 5/19/2012 7:06 PM, jmcquown wrote:
species that I have seen any research on is Black Capped Chickadees and
feeding them in the winter will extend their life span at least in
northern latitudes.
--
Rick Holbrook
Fargo, ND
N 46°53'07"
W 096°48'18"
or
46.887527N
-96.805079W
Remember the USS Liberty
http://www.ussliberty.org/
Reply to: fholbrook(at)cableone.net
Glen Labah
May 22, 2012, 1:12:16 AM5/22/12
to
In article <a1qqrl...@mid.individual.net>,
In the fall as the migrating goldfinches start to reduce in number I
also reduce the amount of food I put out. This simulates the natural
reduction that would normally take place. However, I never completely
stop as there are birds that spend all winter here.
The food may be "plentiful in the wild" but suburban home sites are not
"the wild". The birds lack their natural food source because what they
need to eat generally isn't stuff that gets planted in people's yards.
Natural landscaping with plants that are native to an area and provide
the food the birds need in a natural fashion could work - but only if
there are enough of them available. That means getting a fairly large
area of the neighborhood to do this for it to really work well.
I certainly understand the need to cut back on feeding due to the
prices. One thing you could consider is only putting out a certain
amount at a time, or a feeder with a smaller opening or limited number
of perches so that only one or two birds at a time can eat. This should
slow the rate at which you go through food but still provide you with
viewing.
--
Please note this e-mail address is a pit of spam due to e-mail address
harvesters on Usenet. Response time to e-mail sent here is slow.
also reduce the amount of food I put out. This simulates the natural
reduction that would normally take place. However, I never completely
stop as there are birds that spend all winter here.
The food may be "plentiful in the wild" but suburban home sites are not
"the wild". The birds lack their natural food source because what they
need to eat generally isn't stuff that gets planted in people's yards.
Natural landscaping with plants that are native to an area and provide
the food the birds need in a natural fashion could work - but only if
there are enough of them available. That means getting a fairly large
area of the neighborhood to do this for it to really work well.
I certainly understand the need to cut back on feeding due to the
prices. One thing you could consider is only putting out a certain
amount at a time, or a feeder with a smaller opening or limited number
of perches so that only one or two birds at a time can eat. This should
slow the rate at which you go through food but still provide you with
viewing.
--
Please note this e-mail address is a pit of spam due to e-mail address
harvesters on Usenet. Response time to e-mail sent here is slow.
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