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The mechanism described in the article is that human assistance benefits more dominant species over less dominant ones, which increases the dominant species pop
by birbs 5y ago
The mechanism described in the article is that human assistance benefits more dominant species over less dominant ones, which increases the dominant species population and further suppresses the less dominant species. How is your garden fundamentally different than using a bird feeder regarding this specific interaction?
- foxhop 5y agoThe type and size of seed. Larger birds focus on larger (higher energy) seed sold at the stores. The plants I select to go to seed have small seeds and feed small birds. Just one of many observations I've had the pleasure of collecting anecdotal evidence on.
- birbs 5y agoI don’t think the size of the bird is particularly relevant as birds of the same size compete for the same nesting sites. The article gives the example of blue tits dominating willow and marsh tits by hoarding the bird feeder and kicking them out of their nesting sites. Both the willow and marsh tit are slightly bigger than the blue tit. It seems to me that your garden would also have this issue.
- chongli 5y agoA bird feeder is a very small location with an extremely high concentration of seeds. A garden, while small, is much larger than a feeder. I think less dominant birds would stand a much better chance of reaching the seeds in a spread out garden than they would at a feeder. Additionally, the plants in the garden offer cover for small birds to hide behind while they’re eating seeds on the ground. This should also help the less dominant birds survive.
- numbsafari 5y agoAnother factor is whether your practice also helps create additional nesting spots. Certain plants, leaving behind brush or downed trees, etc, can help create additional nesting sites, or leave ones that would otherwise be removed. For example, we maintain a few brush piles and downed trees rather than chipping everything. These make for busy way points where you’ll see less common visitors.
- hellbannedguy 5y agoI have a 1 ft. x 1 ft. platform with 1 inch sides, which I hang from a huge Oak tree. I put in peanuts, and wild bird seed. The black birds, and the squirels only eat the peanuts. The smaller bids eat the seeds. I have only seen the Squirrels chase away the black birds, but there are days when it's the other way around. The smaller birds wait until the peanuts are mostly gone, and they go in. Since I put in my bird feeder, I have noticed more birds of all species some using my property. I have had a small bird (I think a finch) set up nest on my front porch 3 times. The nests are a few yards from the feeder, and bath. I have noticed small birds eating spiders under my eaves. Since man has built houses, and paved land; I can't see how a bird feeder does much of anything besides bring in a lot of species. Peanuts will bring in rats too. Squirels bury the peanuts, and rats will dig them up. Squirels seem to forget where they buried their stash? I probally over feed with the peanuts. I've noticed the black birds will squawk for peanuts around 4 pm., and the Squirels practically tell me to feed them. There was one who used to rattle tge screen door. I've noticed this year in particular, the watering platform is used by more birds, and insects. I could be me. I might be thinking they are thirsty because of the drought, but I just see a lot of action in that water. (If you supply water, try to change it daily. There's some bacteria going around.)
- jakear 5y ago> If you supply water, try to change it daily. There's some bacteria going around. I know the answer is obvious, but I don’t know what it is. Why is promoting animal growth better than promoting bacteria growth?
- MikeTheGreat 5y agoI don't know for sure, but off the top of my head I can come up with two reasons: 1. Bacteria can be dangerous (for the animals, for us) 2. Birds are beautiful and squirrels are adorable (esp. with their their fuzzy tails). A pool of sludge is repulsive. So, uhm, I like animal growth better for personal, subjective reasons :)
- foxhop 5y agoAnimals have an inherently higher worth in terms of energy, niche, process, consciousness. Bacteria left unchecked, could wipe out a species due to it's crazy exponential growth factors. For example over running the immune system. Lately we have had scientific observations of some or of illness killing many birds across many species. In this case you clean the "watering hole" if you are going manage that artificial shared resource to prevent being part of the problem.
- jstrH 5y agoOh well. It would be an “issue” without the awareness. Having awareness does not mean humans can/must stop being human. At least a permaculture garden is an attempt at self providing utilitarian effort. A bird feeder is just a low effort spectator sport with one outcome.