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From: annmh@blake.u.washington.edu (Ann Harrington)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Handfeeding Wild Birds
Summary: Should you?
Message-ID: <11968@milton.u.washington.edu>
Date: 30 Nov 90 00:53:15 GMT
Expires: 30 Nov 90 00:53:14 GMT
References: <11679@milton.u.washington.edu> <1990Nov27.173242.27735@ioe.lon.ac.uk> <1990Nov29.095231.5523@vaxa.strath.ac.uk>
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Distribution: rec.birds
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On this thread of feeding wild birds, I have a simple question:
Should you?  

I can't believe I've gotten into this argument, but I have, and
I want to know what the net.concensus is.  My opponent argues
that birds that beg from humans out in the wilderness should
not be fed because it detracts from their desire/ability to seek
food in other ways and thus endangers their survival, say, when
there are no more humans around with food (winter, etc.).  Oddly,
he doesn't feel this way about backyard birdfeeders.

I say it doesn't do any harm, because if humans provide enough
food to completely support a bird then he's fine, and if they
don't and he can't figure out how to get other food, he wouldn't
still be there to be begging.

What do you bird experts out there say?

-Ann
annmh@blake.u.washington.edu