Can I make wild birds dependent by feeding them year-round?
A. No; remember that what we provide the birds is only a fraction of their diet. Birds will always forage for food on their own. During the summer months feeding the birds gives the adults an extra helping hand since nesting is such an intense, high-energy process. Feeding the birds during the cold, winter months can make the difference between life and death to a bird who has difficulty finding food buried under snow and ice.
