Is it OK to feed wild birds?

When I was younger, in winter my mum and I would walk to the river with a bag full of bread, and feed the ducks.

I still remember seeing my breath on the air, hearing the frost crunch beneath my feet, and the hot, itchy, tightness of my woollen scarf. I know now that giving bread to ducks is BAD. What other horrors had I unknowingly committed? Here, we look at some common myths, and help you do the right thing.

Myth/Fact

You shouldn’t feed birds AT ALL.One of the most often-quoted theories is that feeding wild birds is a bad thing in itself and that we shouldn’t be interfering with nature, but what this viewpoint does, is exclude humans from nature, and we are also very much a part of it. For some, it can be seen as an attempt to redress the balance of habitat destruction.

For others, there is just the simple pleasure of observing and learning about birds. With both of those things in mind, once our motivation is acknowledged, we must keep the well-being of birds at the forefront of this activity.

The first recorded instance of feeding wild birds for pleasure was a 6th century monk called Saint Serf, in Fife, Scotland. In mid 1800s America, Thoreau was known to toss out bird food from his back door at Walden Pond.

Bird feeding became nationally popular in the UK after a newspaper appeal to save the birds during the very harsh winter of 1890/1891, with temperatures frequently dipping to -17 degrees Celsius.

Freezing fog blanketed the nation and some parts of London received no sunshine at all throughout December. In 1910, Punch magazine declared it a national pastime. In 1980s USA, feeders and food began to be stocked in hardware stores, and now February is declared National Bird Feeding Month, generating around $4 billion a year.

The first recorded instance of someone feeding wild birds for pleasure was a 6th century monk in Fife, Scotland.

It makes them dependent on you. Birds are foragers; there is no one reliable food source. They are also opportunists, and so why wouldn’t they take something that’s handed to them?

Well, it turns out that birds only visit feeders for around 25% of their daily food hunt. Studies (read a famous one here, conducted in the mid-1980s, concluding that any dependency that might exist would be very low) have shown that birds won’t focus on a single food source in any given day, and whilst intentional bird feeding has had a notable increase on population size and habitat range, there is no supporting evidence that this makes them any less wild or dependent on you to survive.

Migratory birds won’t leave. It is a common misconception that you shouldn’t feed birds because it prevents migration – why would the birds leave if there is still food all over the place?

‍Migration happens every year, for several reasons such as changes in day length, increasingly bad weather events, and genetic instincts. Leaving some food out won’t stop birds doing what they’ve got to do.

In fact, you are helping build the energy reserves of those who are yet to depart, as well as keeping any residents around catered for if they need it.

Will feeding bread to ducks make them explode?

Will giving bread to ducks make them explode? In a word, no. That’s just silly. All ducks, swans, and geese can digest bread, and they like it, but it doesn’t mean you should feed them bread. Imagine only ever eating spray can cream.

It tastes nice, but it’s just not a good idea. Your liver would turn to pâté in no time, because you wouldn’t be getting any nutrients. Bread – especially white bread – has a very low nutritional value.

Exclusively feeding bread to ducks is not good for their health, though it is acceptable to feed them a small amount. But you must also feed them grains, oats, vegetables and fruit (it’s quite funny watching a duck eat a watermelon rind).

Birds' feet will freeze to metal feeders in winter. Birds don’t have any sweat glands in their feet, so they don’t produce any moisture that could freeze them to the poles. Their feet are also made up of scaly tissue, which has a very low blood flow, minimising cold damage.

True, they may find it difficult to hold onto icy perches, as would you, so if you are concerned about that, then put your feeders in at night or in dry sheltered areas where any ice storms can’t affect them.

- You can’t feed birds peanut butter as it will get stuck in their throat and make them choke. This is just simply not true. There hasn’t been a single recorded instance of a bird dying from eating peanut butter. In fact, it is an incredibly nutritious snack, high in calories and fat. But if you are worried about the potential of peanut butter choking a bird, rub in some corn flour to make it more solid and crumbly.

- Uncooked rice will swell up in a bird’s belly, killing them. Again, nope. Many birds include rice in their natural diet, along with other seeds and grains, and get by just fine. Leftover cooked rice is also a great supplemental snack for your feeder.

A note on toxic foodstuffs: there are of course some things you simply don’t feed a bird. Most of the time, birds will know to leave them alone, but if they are mixed in and well hidden with other treats, there is always the risk of accidentally hurting a bird.

- Apple seeds are one of the most often overlooked toxins – always core an apple, and make sure there are no seeds left. Avocados are a no-no, as are tomato leaves, mushrooms,dried beans, and onions. It should go without saying that salt, chocolate, alcohol, and coffee are also very bad for birds, but just in case, we’ve said it anyway.

That's not a bird!

You’ll also need to make sure your feeders are safe places for birds; it’s not just about what to eat, it’s also about where.

Always position feeders and tables away from walls, fences or windows, preventing easy access for cats and other predators, and also reducing the likelihood of birds hitting a window.

It’s fine to put feed on the ground, but if you can, use a tray, and make sure to bring it in at nightfall if it’s not all gone – rats can soon sniff it out, bringing their own diseases and issues. Also, if space allows, move your feeding sites every month, to prevent a build-up of droppings on the ground.

One of the biggest threats is the transmission of disease. It’s very easy for birds to pass on diseases at feeders, and then take that disease back to the nest or colony. There is sometimes no way to counteract this, but you can minimise the risk.

The more people know about the facts and safe actions of bird feeding, the more people will enjoy it, and the birds can only benefit from your enjoyment.

Always keep your feeders clean. The accumulation of droppings, spilled seed and discarded seed hulls soon becomes a problem. Seed hulls can build up very quickly, leaving a thick layer that can then breed moulds and fungus. You can buy a mild disinfectant spray from veterinary practices or pet stores, or use a ratio of 10:1 hot water to bleach. Always dry your feeders before putting back.

Keep track of how much food you are putting out each time you need to top up. If it takes a few days to be eaten all up, cut back a bit. Ideally there shouldn’t be much left after a day.

Lastly, make sure there is plenty of water, and not just on hot days. Digesting high energy food uses a lot of water from the body, and must be replaced. Keep your water on a raised platform if you can, in a shallow bowl, and also put some small pieces of gravel and a twig or two in it, just in case if some thirsty bees pop by, they don’t drown.

It’s easy to believe scary-sounding things when you don’t know the truth, but a little research will usually show that someone has done a study or figured it out before you. Also don’t be afraid to amicably challenge misconceptions if you hear them. The more people know about the facts and safe actions of bird feeding, the more people will enjoy it, and the birds can only benefit from your enjoyment.