Urban Bird Feeding: Connecting People with Nature.

PLoS One

Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, United Kingdom.

Published: July 2017

AI Article Synopsis

  • Researchers are noting the benefits of nature for humans as biodiversity declines, but urban lifestyles often lead to a disconnect with nature.
  • Bird feeding is a popular activity that helps bridge this gap, offering psychological benefits, a concern for bird welfare, and a connection to nature, though the reasons for it are not fully understood.
  • A survey in southern England revealed that people who frequently feed birds feel more relaxed and connected to nature, suggesting that bird feeding could play a vital role in engaging urban populations with wildlife and conservation efforts.

Article Abstract

At a time of unprecedented biodiversity loss, researchers are increasingly recognizing the broad range of benefits provided to humankind by nature. However, as people live more urbanized lifestyles there is a progressive disengagement with the natural world that diminishes these benefits and discourages positive environmental behaviour. The provision of food for garden birds is an increasing global phenomenon, and provides a readily accessible way for people to counter this trend. Yet despite its popularity, quite why people feed birds remains poorly understood. We explore three loosely defined motivations behind bird feeding: that it provides psychological benefits, is due to a concern about bird welfare, and/or is due to a more general orientation towards nature. We quantitatively surveyed households from urban towns in southern England to explore attitudes and actions towards garden bird feeding. Each household scored three Likert statements relating to each of the three motivations. We found that people who fed birds regularly felt more relaxed and connected to nature when they watched garden birds, and perceived that bird feeding is beneficial for bird welfare while investing time in minimising associated risks. Finally, feeding birds may be an expression of a wider orientation towards nature. Overall, we found that the feelings of being relaxed and connected to nature were the strongest drivers. As urban expansion continues both to threaten species conservation and to change peoples' relationship with the natural world, feeding birds may provide an important tool for engaging people with nature to the benefit of both people and conservation.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4948881PMC
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0158717PLOS

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