Why feed garden birds?
Put simply, to help them and ourselves. Most bird species have declined since the 1970s as a result of environmental changes such as the intensification of farming, land reclamation and drainage, the replacement of native woodland with intensive pine plantations, land development and, of course, pollution. Experts are now beginning to appreciate the importance of gardens in both town and country as a wildlife habitat. Individual preferences mean that gardens provide diversity and a variety of food throughout the year, as well as the additional benefits provided by nest boxes and ponds or bird baths. The Goldfinch demonstrates this perfectly; results from participants in the BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch survey show that Goldfinches now visit more than half of all gardens. Garden bird feeding has greatly helped to reverse the declining trend in Goldfinch numbers that has been prevalent since the 1970s. We shouldn’t overlook the fact that feeding the birds isn’t just good for them – we benefit
