News - Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment: Bird feeding sites pollute environment with phosphorus

Researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark have discovered that ordinary ceramic bowls intended for birds can have a negative impact on the environment. The results of their research were published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. An analysis of UK data has shown that the pots of millions of domestic birds around the world lead to significant transport of nutrients into the local environment. This artificial intervention in the natural process is fraught with unpredictable environmental consequences. The aforesaid team of researchers calculated that feeding the birds releases an additional 2,400 tons of phosphorus into the environment each year. This is comparable to phosphorus emissions from other human activities, including industrial waste and sewage. Nutrients from bird feed end up in rivers, where they cause algal overgrowth and harm aquatic organisms, the researchers noted. They stressed that bird feeding practices are important, but require a responsible approach when considering the relationship between the organisms and their environment.