Don’t feed the birds! Well.. OK, if you must make sure you do it properly.

Dr Darryl Jones is an urban ecologist who has spent years studying the interactions between humans and animals in towns and cities. One of the most common and widespread interactions between animals and humans is bird feeding. Despite how common it is, there has been very little research into the impacts of this interaction on birds’ behaviour and ecology. Darryl has turned his focus towards understanding what food we are giving birds and why we feel so compelled to do this.

In this episode of In Situ Science we talk about Australia’s bird life and how adopting bird feeding strategies developed in other parts of the world is inappropriate for our unique birds. We talk about what impacts our bird feeding behaviours can have on birds, and, if you do feel compelled to feed birds, how you can do it responsibly. If you do want to know more about how to feed the birds in your garden make sure to grab a copy of Darryl’s two books “The Birds at My Table: Why We Feed Wild Birds and Why it Matters” and “Feeding the Birds at Your Table: A Guide for Australia”.

Follow Darryl on Twitter @MagpieJonesD

Music: ‘Strange Stuff’ by Sonic Wallpaper – www.sonicwallpaper.bandcamp.com

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