Wildlife UK Forum - Discuss the UK countryside and wildlife

I apologise if this has already been posted, but I couldn't see it anywhere. Did anyone see the news article recently about a study which found that birds are starting to not migrate in the winter as we are all feeding them so much?

I haven't got a link on me unfortunately as I heard it on the radio, but it doesn't seem that far fetched that if birds have enough food they are starting to feel no need to migrate. I'm sure that causes lots of problems in the ecosystem though, and could the birds have trouble surviving if there is a particularly cold spell?

Firstly, can this be moved to the Birds thread?

Richard, did the article specify any particular species? The classic migratory species like Swallows for instance wouldn't be affected by humans feeding them?

(Moved to Birds forum)

I didn't hear the article unfortunately, but I do suppose that if they can rely on food from humans and can survive the cold weather, then it's possible.

The classic migratory birds like swallows wouldn't be affected, but they can be affected by the strange weather we are getting at the moment. The first recorded swallow to stay in the UK for the whole winter has just been documented. Have a look at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jh...ow116.xml.

there was a few reports that swallows and matrins were staying along the south coast all winter a mate saw at least 3 swallows down that way just after xmas

The overwintering birds ie Swallows and Martins are more likely due to the warmer climate, not humans feeding them.