In this episode, we explore “Garden Bird Feeding: Insights and Prospects from a North–South Comparison of This Global Urban Phenomenon” by Reynolds et al. (2017).
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Backyard bird feeding is one of the most widespread ways people interact with wildlife - but how does it actually shape bird behavior, ecological communities, and even evolution? This study compares window bird feeder bird feeding practices across the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, revealing surprising differences in which species benefit, how communities shift, and what unintended consequences emerge.
We break down what scientists have learned, what remains unknown, and how citizen scientists play a key role in helping researchers understand this massive global experiment. If you’ve ever wondered whether feeding birds helps, harms, or transforms the wildlife around us, this episode is for you.
