Hi All,
Dave Torr noted that in the UK and North America people are
encouraged to feed birds in their backyards.In general they are feeding
native birds, and interesting animals like squirrels.
In Australian cities and most towns, backyard feeding means
feeding House sparrows and Mynas, although one of my staff feeds out parrot
seed in the lower Blue Mountains and attracts some beautiful birds including
Gang-Gang Cockatoos and Crimson Rosellas. She swears that they don't become
dependent, the seed is too expensive to put out more than snack-size doses.
I do feed finches, put the feed in a possum trap with half inch
mesh (it's an old trap) which allows Red-browed and Double-barred finches
in,and Chestnut Mannikins with a squeeze, but keeps sparrows out. The
sparrows can also squeeze in with difficulty, but can't get out in a hurry
when approached, so just dont try any more, learned behavior passed on to
their young.
I don't put out enough for the finches to become dependent.
Cheers
Michael
Michael Hunter
Mulgoa Valley
50km west of Sydney Harbour Bridge
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