{"id":286550,"date":"2023-02-28T16:26:38","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T16:26:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/uk\/?post_type=parents&p=286550"},"modified":"2025-11-06T17:48:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T17:48:34","slug":"bird-feeding-dos-and-donts","status":"publish","type":"parents","link":"https:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/uk\/parents\/bird-feeding-dos-and-donts\/","title":{"rendered":"The dos and don’ts of feeding the birds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Experts say bird feeding can provide plenty of benefits to wildlife and families. So, here\u2019s how to get it right for you and your feathered friends\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bird feeding 101<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Healthy, nutritious bird food can give your local fliers an extra boost. And scientists say feeding the birds can help your family feel positive, too.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor the people giving the birds food, it\u2019s generally a very good thing,\u201d says Jack Shutt, a biologist from Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK. \u201cIt connects them to nature and gives a lot of people a lot of happiness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though wild birds aren\u2019t quite the same as having a pet, their regular visits and relative tolerance for people make them great candidates for teaching kids a number of life lessons, including empathy and patience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, when bird feeding is done correctly, giving wild birds healthy foods can boost their populations and increase individual health, Shutt says.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"bird<\/a>
A European robin soars in to grab a snack from a simple window feeder.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

But feeding birds does carry some risk, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For starters, outbreaks of disease can be made worse when birds congregate at feeders. A concentrated food source brings the birds closer together than they would be in the wild, which makes it easier for diseases to spread between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studies have shown that some species, such as the blackcap, are changing their long-held migration patterns because bird feeders provide food year-round. Plus, bird feeders can attract other visitors, like squirrels and rats, which can create conflict with people. And birds that make use of seed kicked to the ground are more susceptible to cat attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But with the knowledge that birds are generally in stark decline, experts agree that feeding birds does more good than ill. You could make it a New Year’s resolution<\/a> (or seasonal resolution, if New Year is a long way away) to give it a go and see what you spot! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out these expert tips to help you and your family enjoy the benefits of feeding birds while minimising the potential for harm…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to place a bird feeder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n