WARNING . Please feed the birds in your garden

[Gardenman]

Apparently this year due to the weather there are fewer insects for the birds to eat. So please if you don’t usually buy fat balls & seeds to put out (in safe places to avoid the cats ) a plentiful supply . They really need it this year, especially with snow forecast later this week. 
 

Thankyou 

[malumbu]

Rather alarmist. There is unlikely to be snow this week, but even if there is that is natural and wildlife adjust accordingly.

There are fewer insects to eat due to what humans have done to the planet over the decades.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_in_insect_populations  In particular:

• Habitat Loss and Fragmentation:
• Agricultural Chemicals:
• Climate Change:
• Pollution:
• Invasive Species:

There is even a case for not feeding birds due to the spread of disease through feeders, greenfinch population was decimated.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/24/should-we-stop-feeding-birds-what-happens-if-we-do-and-does-it-spread-disease

 

I do feed the birds but keeping a watching eye on the evidence.

 

And I try to grow insect and bird friendly plants including attempts at a meadow.

 

There could also be an argument for not keeping cats as these may decimate bird populations.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/14/cats-kill-birds-wildlife-keep-indoors

 

You will need squirrel proof feeders and even then you may have the starlings and green squwaky things eating most of the food left out for small birds.

 

[Angelina]

Great shout.

They do need the extra fat when it’s winter, but don’t use fat balls from April as they are dangerous for nestlings as the babies can choke on lumps of the fat. When it gets milder switch to suet pellets as they are harder and don’t melt (the grease is bad for feathers.

 

 

[satsuma]

On 08/02/2026 at 23:21, malumbu said:

There is even a case for not feeding birds due to the spread of disease through feeders, greenfinch population was decimated.

 

Rather alarmist.

[Sue]

35 minutes ago, satsuma said:

Rather alarmist.

Sadly true though.

I've just replenished my (clean)  feeders and put out suet blocks and logs.

Now I'm waiting for the pigeons and squirrels to descend 🤣

[malumbu]

1 hour ago, satsuma said:

Rather alarmist.

Silly comment.  Read the attachment.  Or go to i-player and watch Winterwatch: https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/documentaries/winterwatch-jack-baddams-protect-birds-comment/

Our gardens are not natural, many of the birds that use them are dependent on us.  Most of us feed the birds, including myself, do it for our own pleasure rather than in a belief that we are reversing the damage done to nature by humans over recent centuries.

[Penguin68]

41 minutes ago, malumbu said:

Our gardens are not natural, many of the birds that use them are dependent on us

There is virtually nowhere that is, except perhaps the few remains of the temperate rain forest in the West of the country. Even the apparently wilder parts are actually the result of agriculture or game management. 

[CPR Dave]

Bird feeders encourage rats and squirrels.

Neither are good for birds. 

[Angelina]

If I don’t feed the birds, they’ve actually come and perched on the fence and stared directly at me through the window. The squirrels do that too. 
 

[fishboy]

We used to feed the birds, but once the parakeets discovered this they just took over, scaring away all the other species and eating everything in sight. I tried scaring them away with a Nerf gun, but they just didn't care. I know it will open a can of worms (no pun intended) but I really think  the parakeet population needs to be reduced; yes they are pretty, but they are just like a plague of locusts when it comes to food supplies. 

PS apologies for pedantry @malumbu but the true definition of "decimate" is to reduce by a tenth... 🫤

[Jenijenjen]

28 minutes ago, fishboy said:

 

PS apologies for pedantry @malumbu but the true definition of "decimate" is to reduce by a tenth... 🫤

I raise your pedantry. Language evolves and Merriam Webster gives the meaning as "drastically reduced especially in number." The word originally derived from the Roman practice of killing every tenth soldier in a mutinous army but I'm sure nobody uses the word in that context now.

[fishboy]

Which is why I was careful to specify "the true definition"!

A bit like "dilemma", generally used for any tricky decisions but should really be where there are only two options, both with equally bad outcomes...

[Jenijenjen]

But as language changes, it is no longer the "true" definition!

[Penguin68]

It is worthwhile noting that the original technical meaning was 'a reduction of 10%', which does not, to my mind, chime at all with 'drastically reduce'. I know that's how it is, I think lazily, often used nowadays but it does allow 'decimate' to be used so loosely that it loses meaning. And it can be confusing to those who know it's original meaning. I think that the fact that decimate and devastate are close homonyms does not help things here.