Laughing kookaburra

Keep our wildlife wild Many people enjoy feeding wild birds, but it is important to consider the impact this has on their

health and on the environment. Wild birds can be best enjoyed by observing their natural

behaviour. Feeding wild birds can cause: • Malnutrition

Birds that find food for themselves enjoy a varied diet. Birds fed by humans can suffer nutritional imbalances that affect their bone and feather condition, even though they may appear to be well. Many birds feed their young by regurgitation, so parent birds that eat an unbalanced diet may raise young with growth deformities.

• Spread of disease Feeding stations that attract large numbers of birds increase the risk of spreading disease if a sick bird is present.

• Unnatural behaviour and aggression Birds fed by humans can become dependent on this food source and may develop aggressive behaviours or cause a public nuisance, such as snatching food from people in parks or congregating in outdoor eating areas.

• Overcrowding and reduced diversity Birds fed by humans can breed in unnaturally high numbers, upsetting the natural balance of species in our region.

• An increase in pests and invasive species Seed and food scraps can attract rats, mice and cockroaches, as well as provide food for introduced invasive species such as feral pigeons and common mynas, which can out-compete native birds for roosting and nesting habitat.

Attract wild birds to your garden naturally by: • Installing a bird bath. Change the water regularly to avoid mosquitos breeding.

• Planting a variety of native trees such as grevillea, bottlebrush and banksia. Planting native trees also provides habitat for other animals such as lizards, frogs and butterflies.

Please do not feed wild birds, for their sake and ours.