This is a less happy post, but something I think is worth reminding people about.
In this case, I’m using an example from Aotearoa NZ, but this is applicable to birds globally with a variety of different outcomes.
An on-going problem we monitor in Aotearoa NZ is a human-based threat to kākā, one of our larger native parrots. Well-meaning but completely misguided, people often feed them bread, nuts, crackers, chips, and anything else they have on them (kākā are often curious with people, get close, and there are plenty of areas where they cross over with residential and recreational human areas for easy contact).
In 2016, 80% of kākā chicks being monitored by scientists in Wellington died, all due to metabolic bone disease. This disease leaves chicks with distorted limbs and bone abnormalities and is completely avoidable by not feeding kākā ‘human food’.
Metabolic bone disease in birds is caused by digesting foods with high ratios of phosphorus to calcium, which is considered dangerous for rapidly growing birds, as it causes a lower-than-average level of calcium in the plasma. Foods that fall into this category for young birds are (but not limited to) corn, nuts, pasta, potato, rice, beans, bread, crackers and cheese – all things people frequently leave outside to feed birds. Symptoms can include weakness, abnormal stance, difficulty in walking, broken feather shafts, and the more extreme signs are limb deformities, limb fractures, and scissor beak.
A very notable case is this young kākā from Waiheke Island, that in 2018 had to be euthanised by the Auckland Zoo, as it’s scissor beak and skull abnormalities were too severe to have any quality of life.
This is just one example of many globally why it’s encouraged (as a general rule) not to feed the wildlife. Most of the time, people have the absolute best intentions, and want to help the animal they’re interacting with, which is completely understandable and admirable! However I would encourage that energy to be redirected into 1) getting involved in local charities and groups that work with the animal and/or ecosystem and find out how to safely lend a hand or 2) donate to orgs and groups working with that species officially.
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