Birds: The Art and Science of Bird Feeding

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that more than 50 million North Americans feed birds. More than 1 million tons of seed are given to birds in what scientists call supplementary feeding. In this diary entry of Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna guest biologist, Eric Hynes, will discuss reasons that we feed birds and if it is necessary. He also discussed how far to place feeders from windows, how to attract various bird species and the simple joy of watching birds. Photo: The author, then 11 years old, in 2011 with Rosy finches (Leucosticte australis) eating black oil sunflower seeds from the rim of her hat. Photo: R.Gaylord