What Lloyd said…spot on
Kai Schraml
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> On 4 Feb 2016, at 9:42 am, Lloyd Nielsen <>
> wrote:
>
> First let me say I have been feeding birds all my life. I see nothing wrong
> with it as long as it is done responsibly.
>
> Just a few points.
>
> Creating a garden which will attract birds is the ultimate BUT how many
> people have the ability, the inclination, the knowledge, the opportunity, the
> time or a suitable block of land to do it? Very few I would think. As an
> ex-nurseryman I would have loved to have done it but have never had the time
> or the opportunity. There would be nothing better. In the district in which I
> now live I know of only two gardens created to attract wildlife but I know of
> many many people who have a feeder or water in their gardens just for the
> birds. And as far as planting a garden of native plants for wildlife, that is
> fine but it is only the dedicated (converted) who will do that. Most people
> love that massive colour that exotics and some natives provide around them -
> just watch the ABC TV Gardening Australia programme on a Saturday night. When
> I was in the industry, we could sell 100 azaleas to about 10 grevilleas. (A
> considerable number of the azalea buyers will still have a feeder or water in
> their garden though).
>
> As far as disease goes, I have never seen a single example of a diseased bird
> at or near any of the feeders I have used over the years. But then I have
> always lived in the country and have fed birds responsibly. (I presume it may
> probably be more of a problem in the cities).Surely some of these diseases
> can be spread naturally. I have a Callistemon not far from my front door
> which flowers profusely. It attracts probably 10 species of honeyeaters,
> lorikeets, and others as well as beetles, butterflies and many other insects
> by day. By night, fruit bats give it a thorough going over and probably many
> other nocturnal life forms such as smaller mammals, moths and so on. I should
> think it would be so easy to pass disease on when so many creatures visit it.
>
> Do people really feed cockatoos and other obnoxious species? They certainly
> don't get a look in at my place.
>
> There was a great story on our local ABC radio a week or so ago. An old
> fellow had just retired and someone gave him a bird feeder. He knew nothing
> about birds but was amazed at the birds it attracted. He bought himself a
> field guide and now sits on his patio for a couple of hours each morning
> watching and identifying the birds that come to the feeder. Best thing he has
> ever done was his comment. And there are many more like him out there! Isn't
> it better to advise him of the correct way to do it rather than say "Sorry
> mate - you shouldn't feed birds", especially in this day an age when our
> wildlife is still getting a walloping with habitat still being destroyed at
> an alarming rate and giving way to urbanisation, agriuculture and so on?
> Turning the general public away from feeding birds surely must be a backward
> step. We need all the support from the general public that we can get from a
> conservation point of view. We should be fostering their interest which in
> turn will add some support, especially when fighting conservation battles.
>
> Lloyd Nielsen
> Mt Molloy, Nth Qld
> www.birdingaustralia.com.au
>
>
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