Anole at a Bird Feeder - Observation of the Day
Recently, an anole drinking from a hummingbird feeder was the observation of the day (https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/18965-an-anole-dines-at-a-hummingbird-feeder-observation-of-the-week-9-23-18#activity_comment_2130551). This is the first observation in this project of a reptile eating at a feeder. I hope to see more unique observations like this, and of course I always look forwards to passerines, doves, woodpeckers, squirrels, and all the other typical visitors.
Comments
Bird Feeders:
First of all, I would question what is in the feed, I’m sure it is not what they would get in the wild. Feeders serve as bait for predators such as hawks or cats. They could easily spread diseases. They cause species of birds that do not usually gather in the same location to do so. They change migration patterns. Birds migrate due to lack of food more than anything, if you feed them they may hang around longer than they should. Do we need to domesticate wild animals. Feeding is the first step in domestication. Feeding them takes them away from their purpose in the ecosystem i.e. Controlling insects and pollination. Giving back some habitat that they have lost due to urban sprawl. By planting native plants, also allows you to observe them in a more natural setting.
Food for thought.
Those are all valid concerns. I believe that is partially why many people only feed birds in the winter, when they need the food much more, and are less likely to abandon their wild food sources in favour of the seed/nectar. Concerns like these are partially why this project exists. If you have ideas about how to monitor diseases, depredation, migration patterns, and other such factors, I'd love to hear it.
Monitor Humanature's effect on Nature?
I'm not sure what you mean by that. Is that an organization? A project?
You asked me if I had any "ideas about how to monitor diseases, depredation, migration patterns, and other such factors, I'd love to hear it." So, in effect, you are asking me: If I have ideas about how to Monitor Human Nature's effect on Nature?
Oh, that makes more sense. Yes, I am asking that. Though, more specifically, I'm asking if you have any ideas on how to monitor the above-mentioned factors through this project.
I believe in common sense and common sense tells me we shouldn't be feeding wildlife. I realize some people need studies to prove it's wrong to feed wildlife. For to long time Science has condoned feeding. It maybe because it helps with public interest. Maybe you should team up with a psychologist to see why people feed wildlife.
I was more-so talking about ways to monitor your previous concerns through iNaturalist. Seeing why people feed birds would be interesting, but at the moment I'm addressing the possibility of monitoring what you mentioned (depredation, parasite transfer, and migration interruption) through iNaturalist. Unless there's a psychologist using iNaturalist who is interested in bird feeding, I don't think we can really follow that idea using this platform.
I'm not sure where to post this but I have a question: Do bird baths count? I see as many (or more) animals drinking from my bird bath as I do eating from my feeders.
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