People often put birdfeeders that contain food for the birds, in their gardens and backyards. But according to recent observations, it has been deduced that these birdfeeders are responsible for increasing the population of birds. Interestingly, as suggested by research, the species that eat food from the feeders has also expanded in terms of variety. According to BTO( British Trust for Ornithology), earlier birdfeeders used to be hosts for starlings and sparrows, but now wood pigeons and goldfinches have also been added to the list of visitors.
The research was particularly conducted to study the increasing number of bird species, particularly after the 1970s.
The Major Rising Species Of Birds:
The above survey has been conducted along with another famous deduction from Garden Bird Feeding Survey. Since 1973 the percentage of wood pigeons and goldfinches has increased from 20 per cent to 80 per cent. This research corroborated the fact that garden feeders have led to the diversification in species of birds. The urban areas have registered a growth of 30 per cent in the population of birds that eat food from feeders, while those who don’t, have maintained an average population. It is interesting to note that such a small act can lead to the whole transformation and restructuring of the community of birds. But there are always two sides to a coin. The negative effects of visiting bird feeders should also be measured, such as disease that might be transferred.
Think Before Giving Out The Food:
All the studies conducted to highlight the double advantages of feeding the birds as well as the augmentation of bird population due to it. But the Royal Society for the Protection of Bird has something else to say. According to their data, the numbers of wood pigeon and goldfinch have gone up but there is a reversal in the numbers of starlings and sparrows. For a lot of people, garden birds when visit us bring with them huge amounts of natural beauty and joy. The idea is to reverse the nature of the decline of the bird population by providing the right amount of food and a secure place.
The Top Five Birds That Registered Increase:
- The British Trust for Ornithologyobserved the data that ranged from the year 1973 up to 2012. The alteration in the number of gardens that a bird visited during this course to eat food from the feeder was studied.
- The highest percentage of rising was seen in the population of a goldfinch. IT had risen from 8.1 per cent in 1973 to a whopping 87.3 per cent in 2012.
- The wood pigeon closely followed suit. The percentage was increased from around 17 per cent to 88.3 per cent.
- The other birds that occupied the top five spots included sparrow hawk, great spotted woodpecker and long-tailed tit.
- This data amassed by the BTO had an underlying basis of the Garden Bird Feeding Survey below it.
Hence looking at the statistics, it is evident how bird feeders have helped the bird population to rise, although any hints of negative impacts should be taken care of.
