Birds are not the only ones impacted by guidance to cease bird feeding.
Abstract
Humans have a particularly strong connection with birds, driving the enormous popularity of residential bird feeding in much of the world. We conducted a web search to document US state wildlife management agency responses to two recent avian disease outbreaks, finding that 23 agencies made recommendations to cease feeding wild birds in 2021-2022. The psychological benefits of bird feeding for humans are well-documented but often overlooked in management decisions in response to avian disease outbreaks. Likewise, ecological evidence does not necessarily support ceasing bird feeding to reduce the spread of every avian disease. Ecological and social science need to be applied in tandem to ensure that well-intended guidance to cease feeding of birds does not have unintended consequences.
Key words
- animal behaviour
- animal ecology
- animal feeding
- animal welfare
- anthrozoology
- attitudes
- avian influenza
- avian influenza viruses
- behaviour
- disease prevalence
- disease transmission
- epidemiology
- infectious diseases
- literature reviews
- outbreaks
- reservoir hosts
- risk factors
- salmonellosis
- spread
- wild birds
- wildlife conservation
- wildlife management
- zoonoses
- influenza viruses
- hosts
- bacterial diseases
- infections
- wild animals