Bird Feeding: A Popular Pandemic Pastime to Connect with Nature Across the World

Birds are fascinating creatures that can brighten up our days with their colors, songs, and behaviors. Many people enjoy watching and feeding birds in their gardens, parks, or balconies, as a way to connect with nature and relax.

But did you know that interest in bird feeding surged in over 100 countries worldwide during the COVID-19 lockdowns?

Why did people feed more birds during the lockdowns?

(Photo : ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented changes and challenges to our lives, such as social distancing, travel restrictions, and economic hardships, as per Phys.org.

These changes have also affected our relationship with nature, as we have spent more time indoors and less time outdoors.

However, some people have found ways to reconnect with nature and cope with the stress and boredom of the lockdowns by feeding wild birds.

A recent study by researchers from the Public Library of Science (PLOS) used data from Google Trends to assess the weekly frequency of searches for terms related to bird feeding, such as "bird feeder", "bird food", or "bird bath", from January 2019 to May 2020.

The study found that there was a significant surge in bird-feeding interest across 115 of the countries surveyed during the general lockdown period, in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

The study also found that countries that lacked bird-related search interest had an average of 294 bird species, whereas countries that demonstrated a bird search interest had an average of 511 bird species, a significant increase in bird diversity over countries measured as less interested.

The study suggested that people fed more birds during the lockdowns for various reasons, such as:

Seeking connection and interaction with their local bird communities
Enjoying the beauty and diversity of birds
Learning more about birds and their behaviors
Providing food and water for birds in times of scarcity
Reducing stress and anxiety by engaging in a relaxing and rewarding activity
Improving mental health and well-being by spending time in nature

Also Read: How to Clean Bird Feeders to Prevent the Spread of Diseases

What are the benefits and challenges of feeding birds?

Feeding birds can positively impact both humans and birds, but it can also pose some risks and challenges. Some of the benefits and challenges of feeding birds are:

Benefits for humans

Feeding birds can improve our mental health and well-being by providing us with an opportunity to connect with nature, enjoy its beauty, and learn about its diversity.

It can also inspire us to take action to protect birds and their habitats by supporting conservation organizations or campaigns or spreading awareness among others.

Benefits for birds

Feeding birds can provide them with a supplementary source of food and water to help them survive in times of scarcity or stress. It can also enhance their antioxidant levels, reduce their stress, and contribute to faster feather growth.

Challenges for humans

This activity can also have negative consequences for humans, such as attracting unwanted pests or predators, causing allergic reactions or respiratory irritation, or creating unpleasant odors or noises.

It can also have some economic costs for buying or maintaining bird feeders or food.

Challenges for birds

Lastly, feeding birds can also have some negative impacts on birds, such as affecting their natural diet or behavior, increasing their dependence or competition for human-provided food, exposing them to diseases or parasites, or disrupting their habitats or migration patterns.