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Except maybe birds. In a study recently published in the journal Nature Communications, Plummer found that people are seeing a more diverse array of bird speci
by keanzu 7y ago
Except maybe birds. In a study recently published in the journal Nature Communications, Plummer found that people are seeing a more diverse array of bird species in backyards now than they did in the 1970s. And this change has coincided with the evolution of the birdfeeder market.
- rjsw 7y agoAnd insects.
- Ensorceled 7y agoInsects populations are declining world wide[1]. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_in_insect_populations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_in_insect_populations
- rjsw 7y agoI meant that we could plant things for insects to eat.
- Ensorceled 7y agoThat’s the problem with short comments; it’s unclear which of several interpretations you meant.
- hvs 7y agoUnfortunately, many people put out bird feeders that support the House Sparrow which is an invasive species in the U.S. that crowds out (and actively kills) local species. https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/managing-house-sparrows-and-european-starlings/ https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/managing-ho... https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-house-sparrows https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-house-... I am all for feeding birds as long as people research the bird feeders and food that they are providing.
- faitswulff 7y agoAny sources for sparrows crowding out or killing local species? Last I heard they were mostly benign in the Americas.
- ip26 7y agohttp://www.treeswallowprojects.com/spardam.html http://www.treeswallowprojects.com/spardam.html
- jacobush 7y agoThis made me sad.
- skypanther 7y agohttp://sialis.org/hosp.htm http://sialis.org/hosp.htm
- MaDeuce 7y agoIn the Texas Hill Country bluebirds used to be common. I'm not claiming that their decline is due to house sparrows, but it's clear that house sparrows can be quite harmful to many cavity-dwelling native birds. They can be extremely desrtuctive; it is not uncommon for them to kill both parents and offspring to take over a nest or nesting spot. One of many resources on the topic: http://bluebirdnut.com/house-sparrows/ http://bluebirdnut.com/house-sparrows/
- mrec 7y agoInteresting. House sparrows are native in the UK, and were extremely common here when I was a kid, but have been declining for decades to the point where they're now on the conservation red-list.