When we went to the Galapagos Islands this last summer, we were not
allowed to take any food ashore and were instructed NOT to give water
to any birds or animals. Even diabetics had to give emergency food to
the rangers to carry for them. I actually had a mocking bird fly down
and peck on my water bottle cap to beg for water but I didn't give it
a drink. ( That was hard!) The whole purpose of this was so that they
did not have more birds and animals on the islands than they could
naturally carry.
I wonder if we bird lovers are in some way responsible for the Anna's
staying here through the winter? I wonder if we should all take our
feeders in on a specific day in September each year so they all
migrate south? I wonder if we have increased the Anna's population
beyond the natural carrying capacity? I wonder if we are doing more
harm than good with our winter feeders??? Someone mentioned here that
they have not always stayed here through the winter. I am interested
in all of your comments on this. Adena Mooers
Here's one answer that I found on a standard Google search. Many other links have similar responses.
Anna's Hummingbirds are non-migratory..they do NOT stick around because people feed them. Even migratory species do not stay because people feed them...they leave when they need and want to, this is a myth that people believe but it holds no truth. Also, a hummingbirds main diet is actually insects, not nectar, although in a snow storm their only choice may be your feeders. Keep them filled for them. I live in the local mountains of So. Cal and we are having a snow storm here..and the first thing I did was fill my hummingbird feeder as I have some resident hummers in my yard. I also put out some suet that has been extremely popular. Hummingbirds can go into a torpor state (light hibernation) and may do so if conditions get too bad. Many will not survive if it gets extremely cold. There is no reason to call anyone to have wild native birds removed from nature like someone else suggested. That is the craziest thing I've ever heard. Obviously if these birds were injured or sick..I would suggest a wildlife rehab..but no reason to remove healthly animals from nature just because. Just provide food for them and hope that they make it.
Excellent question, however.
Joe Meche
I think there are a couple of answers to your question. Feeding does change the distribution of birds etc. extreme weather, viruses and other factors also select for specific qualities in birds.
In the context of recent events Anna's are not really well adapted to cold and whiles feeders likely helped some survive the cold many likely expired.
Conceptually this is more of an issue of " selection" more then carrying capacity .
For a much longer treatment of this subject " the beak of the finch" about Darwin's finches is an interesting read.
Fredrick R. Sears
My opinion: Always hard to know unless one studies something carefully,
but the general thinking is, yes, feeders have helped Anna's hummers
expand northward, as have non-native garden flowers, and warmer winters
have probably played a role as well. Taking down feeders (even if one
could get all hummer feeding humans to do it!) in September would not
encourage the hummers to migrate because they are primarily a residential,
not migratory, species. All that is likely to happen is more of the
hummers will die during cold snaps.
Even more opinion: the existence of seven billion humans (of which a
billion or so use as much resources as the other six billion combined)
have changed the living conditions for just about every bird species in
the world. There's no going back to the way it was (Anna's staying in
California for instance) so you may as well put the feeders out and enjoy
having them around!
Best,
John
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