Birding-Aus
Feeding birds is popular activity, and watching birds at feeders can provide
hours of quality entertainment. I have often wondered, however, what effect
feeders have on behaviour ... in the short and long term (evolutionarily).
Currently, I writing an article (for the IBB) on the potential effects of
feeders on behavior. I would like to include as many Australian examples as
possible. For example, are there any documented range extensions of birds
that can be attributed to people feeding birds the year round. Are there
examples of some species (populations) not migrating due to supplemental
feeding. Although I strongly suspect that there are a host of behavioural
changes that can be attributed to feeders, very few of them have been
formally studied. If anyone has any thoughts on this topic, personal
observations, or literature references, I would appreciate hearing from you.
Unless you think other list members would be interested in your remarks,
please send your replies to my e-mail address listed below. Thanks in
advance (TIA).
Please do not misinterpret this request ... I am not against feeding birds.
I merely curious.
Cheers, Jim
Dr Wm James Davis, Editor
Interpretive Birding Bulletin
Trial copies of the Bulletin and
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www.ibirding.com
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