“By feeding the birds, you could change their evolutionary fate”. It was the heading of a Science Daily article that unceremoniously barged its way into my inbox. The research, based on findings with blackcaps (sylvia atricapilla) in Central Europe, was conducted primarily at the University of Freiburg, although one author was from Environment Canada.

To read the article, go here.

It was dismal news for a backyard birder who derives so much pleasure from watching the birds in my yard - most of whom I’m sure would go elsewhere if I didn’t feed them!

I’d been collecting articles about the pros and cons of bird-feeding for a while. In terms of ‘cons’, I was well aware of the expense and the work. Although I don’t keep close track, the seed and suet I buy to keep our seven feeders and two suet boxes full probably adds up to more than I want to admit. And keeping the feeders clean is a task I’d rather strike off my to-do list. But you can’t feed the birds and not keep the food and water clean.

For the birds, however, the potential downsides are more serious. Death, for instance. Because even if you keep your feeders clean, creating an artificial environment where birds gather to eat can be hazardous to their health – and life. For one thing, their predators have a much easier time finding them. Cats, for example, kill millions of birds each year. That’s why it’s important to position feeders in areas close enough to trees and bushes to allow birds to quickly escape, but far enough away so that cats can’t hide in the bushes and pounce on unsuspecting diners. I’m sure birds stand a much better chance against their natural predators, including hawks and owls, when they are in the forest, not in my backyard. Another hazard is that birds eating from a common backyard feeder are susceptible to the spread of disease from mouldy seed and to salmonella from contaminated bird droppings. That’s why keeping feeders clean is crucial. And if that doesn’t give you pause for thought, consider this: according to The US Fish and Wildlife Service, over a billion birds die each year flying into the windows of homes and office buildings. Although there are methods to try and reduce the numbers of birds who die this way, it’s pretty hard to prevent it altogether. (For suggestions on minimizing window strikes, go to www.allaboutbirds.org, click on Birding Basics then on Attract Birds, then on Problems. This Cornell lab site is also a great source of information on attracting and feeding birds responsibly.)

Awareness of these bird-feeding hazards combined with this latest research out of Germany cast a long dark shadow over my day. But I knew other research demonstrating that many birds benefit from supplemental feeding, especially during severe winters when natural food sources are compromised and during migration when birds need all the extra calories they can get. And other research shows that birds who get supplemental food are better breeders. But there’s another reason why I feed the birds: it gives me the opportunity to learn about them, which leads me to appreciate them - more and more. As a result, I’ve become increasingly concerned about the loss of their natural habitat: the world’s forests.

It’s easy to feel powerless against the problem of habitat loss, but each of us can take steps, no matter how small, to preserve and protect our forests. We can, individually, make our environmental footprint as small as possible; we can be conscious, forest-friendly consumers; and we can support conservation and wildlife programs that make a difference (eg GROWLS, The Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre, the Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society) by volunteering, participating in their campaigns, or providing financial support. The impetus to do whatever I can to preserve and protect bird habitat is, for me, a natural outcome of getting ‘up close and personal’ with the wild birds at the feeders in my own backyard. So, yes, I plan to continue feeding the birds – at least until the evidence convinces me that the risks outweigh the benefits – for the birds.

Sharon is a Gabriola resident, writer, amateur birder, and owner of The Island Book Shoppe. She welcomes your comments at justforthebirds@gmail.com.