Negative Impacts of Bird Feeding on Avian Population Revealed by Study
A study published in PLOS ONE reveals that bird-feeding has dramatically increased worldwide during the COVID-19 lockdowns, but it may harm the birds we love. While feeding wild birds provides benefits for human well-being and mental health, it can lead to the spread of diseases, poor nutrition, advantaging already abundant species, changing community structure, and altering migration patterns. The study also found a clear association between the level of interest in bird feeding and species diversity, suggesting that countries with more bird species have greater levels of interest in feeding them. To minimize risks, it is recommended to keep feeders clean, avoid excessive food, and provide species-appropriate food from reliable sources.