Pulling the birds - Killing with kindness

IT SEEMS that we may be killing birds with kindness. By feeding winter residents we may, unintentionally, be stacking the odds against migratory species.

A study conducted in Down found that birds fed in winter enjoy a successful breeding season, which may mean that migrants face more competition when they arrive here for the summer breeding season.

This is a concern especially where migratory birds are in decline for other reasons such as climate change and the modernisation of African agriculture.