Feeding birds in cold weather

[Figarosmom]

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In a frozen Michigan winter, a homeowner scattered bread crumbs daily, believing she was saving the local chickadees from starvation. However, by week three, the birds grew sluggish and fluffed their feathers unnaturally, showing signs of severe decline despite eating everything provided. A neighbor explained the heartbreaking truth: bread fills their tiny stomachs but offers zero fat or protein, causing them to stop hunting the high-calorie seeds they need to survive sub-zero nights. Horrified, the owner switched to high-fat suet and sunflower seeds, watching as the population blossomed from five struggling birds to forty healthy regulars within a year. This vital lesson proves that kindness without knowledge can be unintentionally cruel. To truly help the wild, we must learn what they actually need rather than what we find convenient to give. True protection begins with understanding the biology of those we wish to save.

[biophile]

1. Good advice but hard to read

[Figarosmom]

2. I.put the transcript on

But if you tap the two arrows to expand you can get it larger or tap the youtube.com icon in the corner it'll go to the full screen video.


Here's the transcript


In a frozen Michigan winter, a homeowner scattered bread crumbs daily, believing she was saving the local chickadees from starvation. However, by week three, the birds grew sluggish and fluffed their feathers unnaturally, showing signs of severe decline despite eating everything provided. A neighbor explained the heartbreaking truth: bread fills their tiny stomachs but offers zero fat or protein, causing them to stop hunting the high-calorie seeds they need to survive sub-zero nights. Horrified, the owner switched to high-fat suet and sunflower seeds, watching as the population blossomed from five struggling birds to forty healthy regulars within a year. This vital lesson proves that kindness without knowledge can be unintentionally cruel. To truly help the wild, we must learn what they actually need rather than what we find convenient to give. True protection begins with understanding the biology of those we wish to save.

[biophile]

4. Thank you so much! I am sometimes tech challenged 😂

[Figarosmom]

5. Me too. No problem 👍

[msongs]

3. as for feeding that wonderful bread to humans... hmm

[efhmc]

6. Put out two suet feeders with my regular bird feeders. Only one bird has ever gone to that feeder.

[Figarosmom]

7. I've gotten so the suet is all i put out

The ones I get at ACE are covered with seeds. They are always eaten.