BirdLife International

• Feeding wild birds in backyards was already known to be extremely popular in many parts of the northern hemisphere and in Australia, despite being strongly discouraged.
• But the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns led to a dramatic increase in wild bird feeding around the world, our research published today shows.

• On the other hand, engaging with wild birds in this way is now recognised as one of the most effective ways people can connect with nature.
• There is strong evidence that spending time in natural settings is good for people’s wellbeing and mental health.

What did the study look at?

• We wondered whether interest in feeding birds might have increased similarly as well.
• To be included in our study, some cost was required; discarded food scraps were not counted as feeding.
• It was important to go beyond the countries where we already knew feeding was common.
• Read more:
  Biodiversity and our brains: how ecology and mental health go together in our cities

What explains the change?

• The backyard or nearby park became the focus of attention, perhaps for the first time.
• Presumably, it’s because of the relative intimacy associated with being able to attract wild, unrestrained creatures to visit by simply providing some food.
• Birds will visit a feeder in a private garden, a public park or even a balcony on a residential tower.

And what difference does bird diversity make?

• Countries that lacked bird-related search interest had an average of 294 bird species.
• This clear difference suggests that having a greater variety of species prompts more bird feeding.
• Nonetheless, our method was able to detect a surge of interest in bird feeding in countries such as Pakistan and Kenya.
• We hope future studies can further analyse the global extent of bird feeding and capture more data in previously understudied countries.




Read more:
Yes it's okay to feed wild birds in your garden, as long as it's the right food

• In partnership with the non-profit, BirdLife International, Lenovo created a mobile tech lab and living space that will road trip through Canada and the United States, collecting birdsong data along the way to support wildlife protection efforts.
• BirdLife and its local partners identified specific Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) within North America where Work for Humankind can bolster its efforts to protect the flyways and migratory species who depend on these special places.
• The mobile setup will also include an integrated Lenovo ThinkSmart Camera, ThinkSmart Bar, ThinkPad P1 mobile workstation laptop, and ThinkVision P40w-20 monitor.
• We have a duty to make a positive impact wherever we do business, and Work For Humankind exemplifies this.

• Throughout this week, more than 7,500 Publix associates across the company’s seven-state operating area will be volunteering at over 200 organizations including Keep America Beautiful affiliates, parks, zoos, gardens and other nonprofits focused on environmental sustainability.
• “Since our founding, Publix has been committed to being responsible citizens in our communities, and that extends to protecting and preserving our environment,” said Publix Director of Community Relations Dwaine Stevens.
• “We’re proud to do good together for the communities we serve by protecting our natural resources.”
  In addition to volunteer opportunities, Publix continues to look for ways to reduce waste and protect natural resources.
• Over 12 years, Publix has contributed more than $600,000 to support fishery and aquaculture improvement projects and other initiatives to advance the sustainability of seafood.

• Through Project Wingman, Redbreast's Irish Whiskey's ongoing partnership with BirdLife International, we're proud to give Redbreast fans a chance to make a difference.
• BirdLife and its partners work in multiple ways to keep common birds common.
• One important way is by monitoring the conservation status of all birds for the IUCN's Red List of Species.
• (LINK https://www.birdlife.org/projects/red-list/ )
  Only by immediately flagging when common birds begin to decline can they then initiate the conservation actions necessary to keep the population thriving.