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Anyone else saddened by RSPB direction, to not feed birds during Summer?

Marianne72

I sat in bed this am, mourning the lack of cheeky sparrows and raucious jackdaws at my empty bird table. Worse, this pm, as I went to feed the hedghogs, a disconsolate fat wood pigeon was roosting on top, where he usually awaits his meals. When he finally flew off, I felt as if something was lost. I know the reasoning is good, leading hopefully to healthy birds, but I still can't help feeling guilty. Will they find enough to eat, especially with fledgelings, and my having fed throughout the year for many years [in line with former RSPB advice]. I know others are feeling the same - having asked AI but it doesn't stop my feeling guilty and missing the antics of my feathered personal flock.

Parents
  • Marianne72 said:
    I still can't help feeling guilty. Will they find enough to eat,

    It probably helps to focus on the harm that you are doing by feeding them - making them depend on you so if you are unable to attend then they may struggle.

    Are you feeling guilty about the problems the birds are facing or missing the gratification that you get from feeling they need you? Have we inadvertently trapped them into dependency?

    I suspect they will quickly adapt back to foraging again once the easy pickings from humans are gone.

    Rationalising it can help focus where our feelings are about the suffering of others or about our own neediness and once laid bare it is easier to process how you feel about it

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  • Marianne72 said:
    I still can't help feeling guilty. Will they find enough to eat,

    It probably helps to focus on the harm that you are doing by feeding them - making them depend on you so if you are unable to attend then they may struggle.

    Are you feeling guilty about the problems the birds are facing or missing the gratification that you get from feeling they need you? Have we inadvertently trapped them into dependency?

    I suspect they will quickly adapt back to foraging again once the easy pickings from humans are gone.

    Rationalising it can help focus where our feelings are about the suffering of others or about our own neediness and once laid bare it is easier to process how you feel about it

Children
  • in reply to Iain

    Thank you - they are very good points, and about dependency. Yes, it is probably selfish - I loved their song, their antics [particularly the corvids] and opening the curtains in anticipation to see what would be there.

  • in reply to Iain

    The advice to stop feeding is based more on a disease that is decimating finch numbers Iain, but your advice still stands on just remembering why we need to stop feeding. 

    We had just bought a window feeder and were enjoying it immensely when the advice came in to stop using those types of feeders entirely! A shame when it was still fairly new! 

    You can still feed the birds, just the main change is away from seeds which attract finches who seem to suffer from the disease the worst, and use suet feeders etc. The great and blue *** have taken to robbing the food put out for the squirrel (some rather large sunflower seeds). I think you just have to be inventive.

  • in reply to Iain

    In this particular case the reason for the direction is disease risk rather than dependency. There has been an increase and bird feeders are acting as prominent contaminant points