Mimi De Moratti scribbled:

On Sun, 20 Apr 2003 23:13:34 +0100, bnd777 wrote
(in message ):

Its people who put out bread etc for the birds that encourage the
rats in the first place
Since it does not assist the birds in finding natural food such
people are thoroughly misguided

What a strange philosophy!

No it's not continous feeding of wild birds throughout the year is
interfereing with nature

I suppose the millions of people who help
birds through the winter

That's different!

and the breeding season,

Birds begin their breeding season to coincide with times when food is
plentyful

when putting food
out can mean the difference between life and death for small birds,

as I said birds normally breed when food is plentyful


are all misguided, as are the BTO and the RSPB? I suppose we should
just let them all starve when it snows or the ground is frozen for
weeks.

Did you read this befor you posted it.


Birds who use feeders also forrage normally for insects etc., so your
argument does not wash.

Sorry but there you may be wrong. Birds that frequent bird feeders are seed
eaters. Whilst I would not argue that they may from time to time eat insects
they do not "normally forage for insects".


It is a pleasure to feed the birds and have them keep my garden pest
free in return.

Surely while you are feeding them they have no inclination to strip your
garden.


Daft thing is you usually find the same people also have 2 or 3 cats
that kill the very birds the owner is feeding

I don't like cats and do not tolerate them anywhere near my garden.

And you believe that because you don't like them that they don't come near
your garden?

Steve R