Have you ever wondered if your bird feeding efforts are having a positive effect to the birds that regularly dine at your feeders?  A report titled State of North American Birds 2016, published by the Cornell University’s Laboratory of Ornithology suggests that bird feeding appears to be positively affecting some species.

          The researchers examined 30 years of data collected it its Feeder Watch program and 50 years of data gathered in the National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Counts.

          The study focused on 135 species that regularly or occasionally use feeders.  Population trends for these species were compared with the status of birds that rarely visit feeders.

          The researchers found that while bird populations in general are declining, the populations of those species that regularly to occasionally feed at our backyard feeders are faring much better than those birds that do not visit backyard feeders.  It should be noted that house sparrows, European starlings, and house finches are not doing as well as other feeder birds.

          These finding should make you feel that your efforts are actually making a difference.  Keep in mind that we have a responsibility to keep feeders and the areas of feeders clean.  This will help ensure that diseases will not lessen the positive impact of our bird feeding efforts.