April 2007 – Birdside Manor Backyard Naturalist Topic
To feed or not to feed
Here in Gaston, Oregon, spring is really bursting out. The land is waking up. Many plants have broken dormancy and are sending forth new leaves and blossoms. The frogs are singing in the creek, we’re seeing a lot of insects. Birds are setting up territories and are getting ready to reproduce. Others are migrating or getting ready to migrate.
There is a lot more natural food available now than there was just a few weeks ago. You may be wondering about when is the right time to stop stocking your bird feeder. The answer is that it’s really up to you, but here are some things to consider.
One concern is that birds might become dependent on having your feeders available. Research indicates that this almost never the case. During extreme weather conditions such as during ice or snow storms, it can be a hardship on birds if a feeder they are accustomed to using is empty. But in general, birds have a lot of options for getting food. If you stop stocking your feeder, the birds that have been using it will find other sources of food.
Another concern that is raised sometimes is, that birds that need to migrate, might hang around for the “free lunch” if a reliable and easy food source is available. Again, research shows that this is not the case. Birds will migrate when the time is right regardless of the quality and quantity of food available to them before they depart.
So, does it matter, is there an impact if you stop feeding? In a word, yes.
As stated earlier, there is a lot of natural food available now and that natural supply of food is increasing. But, this is a time of year when birds have heavy energy demands.
Birds that are getting ready to migrate will benefit from the extra food that they get at your feeders. This will help them be successful during their migration. Birds that are en-route in their migration will benefit from the concentrated food source that your feeder provides so they won’t have to burn as many calories seeking the food that they need to continue their migration.
Birds that are getting ready to, or are in the process of rearing young will benefit from the extra food you provide. Courting, finding and defending a territory, gathering nesting materials, and feeding young are activities that reduce the time available for foraging and dramatically increase the amount of energy that a bird must expend each day. Well stocked feeders can provide an extra cushion that will help your local birds through the breeding season. As a result of your assistance, they may lay larger clutches of eggs and may successfully rear more young.
Birdside Manor’s recommendation is that you continue to stock your feeders. Additionally, consider increasing the number or types of feeders that you have. Check out our extensive selection of bird feeders.
