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Feeling conflicted about putting out seed when birds are nesting
I've noticed more folks around here putting up bird feeders this spring. I read online that too much easy food can mess with how birds care for their babies. For example, I saw some sparrows hanging out at my feeder all day and barely visiting their nest in the bush. It makes me wonder if I'm helping or hurting them by keeping it filled.
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masongonzalez2mo ago
Tara mentioned sparrows ignoring their nest, but I've watched birds for years and they take breaks from feeding chicks all the time. A parent at a feeder for a few minutes doesn't mean the babies are starving. Birds are smart and manage their time. I worry we're seeing a normal thing and calling it a problem. Maybe the parents were just taking a quick break before going back to find bugs.
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tara7932mo ago
Wait, the sparrows were ignoring their nest completely? That's so worrying! I just filled my feeder yesterday but now I feel terrible. It never clicked for me that the parents might get lazy and stop feeding their babies properly. Maybe we should only put out a little seed in the morning so they still have to hunt for bugs later.
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