Should you feed birds?

Feeding wildlife can bring a sense of connection to the nature around us. In some parts of the world, it’s actively encouraged but in Australia that’s not the case. In fact, in Western Australia it’s an offence to feed wild animals without a licence.

If done incorrectly, feeding birds can cause serious problems including disease and malnutrition, as well as encouraging exotic species. Despite this, it’s estimated that anywhere from 30-50% of Australian households feed birds, so it’s important we know how to do it properly.

If you do feed birds, mirroring their natural diet and keeping it hygienic is important. Birds require a balanced diet of nectar, insects, fruit and seeds, and introducing inappropriate foods can cause serious health problems or even death.

Things like wet and dry bird nectar mixes are specially formulated to attract nectar-eating birds like honeyeaters to your garden while meeting the nutritional needs of their wild diets. You can also leave grapes, berries, peas, apple and leafy greens out for fruit-feeders like parrots and silvereyes.

Insectivores and carnivores like fantails, fairy-wrens and butcherbirds are partial to mealworms, crickets and insects. You can purchase these from pet stores or just collect them from your garden. It’s important to leave them in a regularly cleaned dish or some other easily accessible place and not on the ground. Food left on the ground can spoil easily and attract unwanted pests.

Do not feed birds bread, crackers, honey and sugar. These will not impart the nutrients needed for good health, leading to disease and deformities.

Mince is also a no-no for carnivores as it lacks the calcium birds would get from their natural diet. This can cause brittle bones and beaks, even long-term metabolic bone disease.

Consider planting a bird friendly garden instead.

We recommend that you refrain from giving birds an unhealthy snack in your backyard. The best way you can help your backyard visitors in the long run is to provide them with the habitat they naturally encounter. This will ensure they get their nutrition from natural food sources, while reducing their dependence on free handouts. You can see more tips on planting a bird friendly garden in this blog.