RBA readers poll: To feed or not to feed - the results
Our poll on feeding migrant birds has now closed and the results are in.
We asked you "Do you agree with the practice of feeding migrant birds mealworms, seed, bread, fish etc to aid better viewing and/or photography?". Just over 60% of respondents said that they do agree it is OK to feed migrant birds mealworms, seed, bread etc to aid better viewing and/or photography with the remaining respondents voting no.
In the poll we were particularly talking about migrant birds being targeted with food, rather than a migrant turning up in your garden and eating food already there. Clearly in this example one has little choice about whether to feed the bird or not.
The poll generated some interesting discussion on social media, some being quite appalled by the practice whilst others seeing no harm in it. Interestingly people very often talk fondly about rarities from years gone by, such as the famous Upland Sandpiper on Scilly which could be hand-fed, whilst similar practices going on today are often frowned upon.
Perhaps this is because people post photos and videos on social media it is somehow seen as trophy hunting but one has to ask the question, is the only reason this didn’t happen in the past is because people didn’t have digital cameras and social media?
There is probably a genuine debate to be had about the nutritional benefits or harm that can be caused by feeding migrants. There doesn’t appear to be any definitive answers but anecdotally birders often talk about migrants being overfed and suffering physically from inappropriate food.
It is often the case the mealworms are put out for migrant passerines such as Desert Wheatears, and no doubt this means many better photos as a result. However it is also very often the case that the very birds people are putting mealworms down for are already very tame and showy individuals and there is probably little need for the food.
Lots of us feed resident and migrant birds in our gardens and take great pleasure in watching and photographing them in this situation. Is this much different to feeding a rare or scarce migrant which turns up? Where does the line get crossed between doing good and doing bad?
Brian Egan
28 Jan 2015
