Yes, there are ecological consequences flowing from most things that people do.
The bottom line is that in many cases, you will only change WHAT people do when
you address the reasons WHY they do it.
Regards, Laurie.
On 24 Jan 2016, at 10:26 am, Greg and Val Clancy <> wrote:
> We can achieve the same contact with wildlife by converting our gardens into
> natural habitats and by providing a bird bath which doesn't cause the
> problems that feeding wildlife does such as spreading disease, concentrating
> predatory birds in the one area for long periods of time, disrupting the
> natural behaviour of wildlife and making some dangerous to humans by losing
> their natural fear. A number of Pied Butcherbirds were being fed regularly
> near the nest of an Eastern Osprey at Yamba, NSW. On two occasions, a year
> apart, the fledglings on their first flight were viciously attacked by these
> butcherbirds and both lost the sight in one eye due to being stabbed by a
> butcherbird's bill. If the butcherbirds weren't being fed they would have
> been foraging throughout their territory and not waiting around for the next
> handout from a human. The bottom line is that people feed wildlife for their
> own satisfaction and joy not for the benefit of the wildlife, although I am
> sure that some people may mistakenly believe they are helping the wildlife.
> Wildlife species survived quite well before humans started artificially
> feeding them.
>
> We don't feed wildlife in our garden but we have a great amount of enjoyment
> having King-Parrots drinking at the bird bath, Satin Bowerbirds drinking out
> of a water dish and a myriad of other species feeding on the insects and
> nectar that the local native plants provide. The water in bird baths can
> became contaminated so it should be changed regularly. The Robust Velvet
> Geckoes and Martins Skinks in the house do a wonderful job of cockroach
> control.
>
> I published a paper on how we developed our garden at Coutts Crossing, north
> coast New South Wales, into an ecologically friendly space. The response by
> the wildlife has been incredible with over 130 vertebrate species (birds,
> mammals, reptiles and amphibians) having been recorded in or low over the
> yard. If anyone is interested in reading it I can email you a copy.
>
>
> Regards
>
>
>
> Greg
> Dr Greg. P. Clancy
> Ecologist and Birding-wildlife Guide
> | PO Box 63 Coutts Crossing NSW 2460
> | 02 6649 3153 | 0429 601 960
> http://www.gregclancyecologistguide.com
> http://gregswildliferamblings.blogspot.com.au/
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Laurie Knight
> Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2016 6:34 PM
> To: Birding Aus
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] An interesting read - Why do we feed wild animals?
>
> The last sentence sums it up "And that is why many of us feed animals — not
> merely because it’s satisfying to feel we have helped them, but because it
> surrounds us with creatures that know us, are able to forge bonds with us,
> have come to regard us as part of their world.”
>
> See
> http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/magazine/why-do-we-feed-wild-animals.html
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