Go Watch Birds

I found an article the other day that demonstrates how a simple gesture can have far reaching  effect on the world around us. As anyone who has read any of my articles from the past would know, I like to find new ways to attract birds to my backyard. By placing a bird feeder or bird house in your backyard most people primary goal is to do just that attract bird for their viewing pleasure. Sure, putting a decorative feature in your garden by itself adds to the aesthetics of the setting, but who would have know that we are contributing to the changing of the natural world.

Scientists in England have been watching the behavior of the European blackcap. Whether you subscribe to the theory of evolution or not, they have found that there have been physical changes to this species of birds. They have traced these changes back to the birds becoming reliant on bird feeders placed in the gardens of England. The placement of these bird feeders has become so prolific that the many of these birds have stopped migrating to warmer climates in the winter months. They claim that the birds have developed adaptations to better harvest food from the many carefully placed bird feeders around the urban and country gardens of England. Who would have thought that tube bird feeders or suet bird feeders in your backyard you are helping to change the world as we know it.

We have seen similar events her in the United States. East of the Rocky Mountains, Purple Martins have become almost completely dependent on humans for providing their housing. People wanting to attract these beautiful bird to the gardens started placing specialized purple martin houses to attract and assist the bird in breading. After generations of purple martins used the subsidized housing they have become dependent. People have gotten very creative with the housing, creating large habitats using fancy gourd systems and large multi-room houses.

So, go put a simple tube bird feeder in your back yard and change the world!!!

Filed under: Backyard Decorating, Bird Feeders on December 15th, 2009