Feeding Our Garden Birds Is Bringing About Evolutionary Change. Did You Know That?

[ladybirder]

If, like me, you thought evolution took aeons then think again. I read that because we put out food all year, some Blackcaps are staying here through the winter instead of flying to the med. So the group that stays here has developed rounder wings which provide better manoeuvrability and they have also developed longer narrower bills better suited to eating from a seed feeder. Whereas the group that still fly to the med have longer more pointed wings needed for migration and shorter bills. This change has happened rapidly by evolutionary standards and eventually we might see two distinct species. So evolution in action, in our gardens. Big Up for all the feeders of birds here on AB.

And if you already knew this then forgive me but I was really chuffed when I read it;-)

[viv41]

Very interesting lb, I love feeding the birds.

Is this your first post in a while ?

[Prudie]

That is good news, anything that helps them adapt to survival is a plus. More to the point where have you been, people were worried about you!

[ladybirder]

Yes viv, it is my first for a while. It feels really good to know we are making a difference by feeding the birds doesn't it but I had never thought that we might be bringing about evolutionary change.
Hi Prudie, people worried about me? Me? Really? Shucks. I am surprised.
On reflection that's nice unless they were worried I might come back again. Haven't been anywhere really, except not on here;-))
Nice to see you posting away as usual. x

[Prudie]

Well Naomi and I were worried! Nice to see you back anyway,
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1475262.html

[ladybirder]

Oh thank you Prudie. Missed by two of the best people on here as well. Bless you both.

[frugalfred]

I have had Mr. and Mrs. Blackcap visiting my feeders all Winter. (and 6 goldfinches, a solitary greenfinch, numerous chaffinches and sparrows, collared doves (a pair) wood pigeons, tom- and great- and long-tailed tits. It's a pleasure to watch them all - bit expensive, though!

[CupBuster]

Hello! It is amazing! Thank you, ladybirder, for this post! I didn’t ponder the question about evolution when I fed birds too. But if you think a little, this idea is very logical. Evolution means genetic changes. It takes some generations to fix new trait. And what about birds, a new year is a new generation. I think it takes even less than a decade to remake a genome.

[Togo]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121092289

http://www.wbur.org/npr/121092289

Hi ladybirder. I too feed the birds and have great joy observing the different species that we get on the feeder up here in N.Wales. I am particularly fond of the Woodpeckers, Nuthatches and Tree Creepers that visit. I have recorded 24 different species this winter, which is well short of the 30 odd species that visited in 2010/2011. I had seen the reference to changing the evolution of birds with our behaviour and have posted a couple of links that give a little detail.

[frugalfred]

What species of woodpecker, togo? What do they eat from your feeders?

[Togo]

Greater Spotted fred. Two female and one male take turns. They will take peanuts but love the square block fat feeder with meal worms embedded in it. I posted a picture to chipchopper a few weeks back on a previous thread in Birdwatching. He is also an avid feeder and watcher.

[frugalfred]

Thanks, Togo. I have one GS woodpecker visiting, but only observed it climbing the tree trunk in search (presumably) insects. I have a square fat thing and meal worms, so I'll try that tomorrow. On the other hand, maybe that's where the peanuts are going, as I put a handful on the table each day.

[melv16]

Pedants point. It should be great spotted woodpecker.

[frugalfred]

pedant's point - don't forget the apostrophe!

[Togo]

I knew as soon as I posted melv. Haha. I think my visiters have a clutch on the go already as the female after being very full and large a week or so ago now looks decidedly slimmer and does not dwell on the feeder. She was staying for up to 5 or 6 minutes a few weeks back.

[Togo]

I put the peanuts in a wire tube feeder fred. Ruddy grey squirrels are a pest for me, to say nothing of Crows, Magpies, Feral Pigeons, and Gulls if I don't.

[frugalfred]

I see a lot of green woodpeckers - yaffles - on the nearby common which has stacks of ant-hills. The birds tear into the ant-hills for ants' eggs presumably.

[Togo]

You will be right fred. Have never seen one on the feeder or even nearby. But we do occasionally see them on the local golf course. (not playing) They are actually ground feeders unlike the tree feeding Great.

[frugalfred]

I have grey squirrels too, but to make a "squirrel-proof" bird table I took the bottom 3 inches of a bucket (sawn off) and mounted it with a central screw onto a broomstick. Put in some drainage holes. The table stands abut 4 feet off the ground. It seems to work. Observation suggests that it's the tom-tits that take the peanuts - they grab one and go to the nearby tree. I also invested in a powerful water-pistol with which to "shoot" the grey squirrels!

[ladybirder]

Thank you for all your replies. Wonderful to know how many ABers feed the birds and the wide variety of species involved.
Fred I buy in bulk to keep the cost to a minimum but I do buy quality.
Welcome to AB Cupbuster (interesting user name:-)
Envious of your variety Togo, brilliant. I haven't had a Nuthatch where I live now but have before. Only ever seen a Treecreeper when out and about.
I do have a Greater Spotted Woodpecker regularly at my fat feeder and sometimes a Green one as well.

[Togo]

Haha innovative. I have one of the dome baffles fitted on the feeder pole, but the rascals have learned to leap off my roof or a nearby bush.