Should I Feed The Little Birdies ?

[Gromit]

I was recently given a bird feeder, and enjoy watching them come and feed from it. They are eating a lot, and I have started to wonder if I shouldn’t be feeding them now. I can see the sense in feeding them in winter when conditions are bad, and it spring when they have their young. But feeding them now might be making them lazy. They should be finding their own food now it is plentiful.

Should I stop replenishing the feeder, and resume later in the year ?

[ladybirder]

But the insects aren't there in the numbers they used to be. I thought I'd explained that in my post. I remember the loud hum of insects in the garden and countryside in the spring and summer when I was younger. Never ever hear that now. Everybody should keep their feeding stations clean, I thought that was a given.
Chipchopper, the ground has been so hard here on the SE coast that the birds, even the blackbirds, have been unable to get the worms out. I may well have saved the lives of my male BB and his babies as he helps himself to a beakful of live mealworms then scatters them on the ground for the youngsters to devour.

[ummmm]

And still...what was nasty about jno's post?

[Chipchopper]

I have no issue with mealworms, and use them on a regular basis, both dry or live. The robins that have a nest in my conifer seem to prefer the abundance of wild food but will often take the mealworms during leaner times.

[divegirl]

@jno
''The SAS squirrels also cling and swing. I have to give them the hard stare''

That really made me laugh... thank you!

I don't encourage wild birds into my garden as we have three felines. That said we have a Magpie family in the garden right now and a pair of Robins... who make a total racket every time a cat ventures their way but we've not seen the baby yet.

[rowanwitch]

Feeding them now means the adults can use all the bugs they find to feed their young. Increasing the chances they will pledge a full brood

[divegirl]

Have you still got the canary Rowan?

[Chipchopper]

Birds that go for worms shouldn't have too much trouble findind any to day, its been tipping it down here all afternoon and no sign of letting up just yet!
I'm running low on bird food now, so I'm eagerly awaiting for the next delivery from the farm shop.