"The Responsible Suet Alternative"
FAQ's
Why are Avian Cuisine products, "The Responsible Choice In Wild Bird Food?"
A recent report from the National Audubon Society states that, in spite of our conservation efforts over the past fifty years, many species of birds are still declining. We believe that our culture is responsible for this state of affairs and that we have a moral obligation to mediate our culture's negative impact on wild birds and the environment in general. Until Avian Cuisine Wild Bird Foods were introduced to the market, all wild bird food products were formulated to attract wild birds for entertainment. Any nutritional benefit for the birds was secondary and incidental. "Bird candy" like seeds, seed mixes, and suet products fail to take into account the nutritional composition of the ingredients, the nutritional requirements of birds, and their feeding preferences. Feeding these types of foods to birds in the backyard contributes little to the effort to stabilize bird populations. Even if it were possible to prepare a seed mix that contained all the nutrients required for optimum physical and reproductive avian health, it would fail because birds, like children, will preferentially select only the seeds they prefer like black oil sunflower seeds that are more than 50% fat. Fat is to birds like sugar is to humans.
It is easy for people to "feed" wild birds without taking any real responsibility for them because the birds are free and able to fend for themselves. As zoo keepers and environmentalists, we realized that standard wild bird foods contribute minimal nutrition to birds and, if not used properly, could bring them harm. It is very similar to the old days in zoos when visitors could purchase a bag of treats and feed the animals. In the seventies, zoo professionals realized the importance of proper nutrition and discontinued selling animal treats and permitting visitors to feed the animals.
Avian Cuisine products are the responsible choice for feeding wild birds because they are developed and formulated to help sustain wild bird populations by providing a nutritional safety net when local and/or seasonal conditions make it difficult to find enough natural food to sustain themselves and/or their offspring. Avian Cuisine products take backyard bird-feeding to a new level. We look at backyard bird-feeding as an entry level activity that can encourage environmental awareness, responsible habitat management, a green lifestyle, and "it's fun!" Avian Cuisine products reflect our commitment to help maintain birds in optimum physical and reproductive health and in the long run we should see, earlier nesting activity, increased reproduction rates, increased fledging rates, and increased survivorship rates.
Why are Avian Cuisine Wild Bird Foods preferable?
For those consumers who want to make a significant contribution to the physical and reproductive well-being of wild birds, Avian Cuisine Wild Bird Foods are the preferred choice. Unlike standard commercial bird foods that are intended to attract birds rather than provide them with meaningful nutrition, Avian Cuisine products are a processed, nutritionally complete blend of all the nutrients birds require for optimum physical and reproductive health.
Does my backyard habitat have any impact on feeding wild birds?
This is an important question. Several years ago the Wall Street Journal ran an article that was very critical of backyard bird-feeding. One of their criticisms came from professional habitat and wildlife managers. Their premise was that if you are feeding wildlife (birds, deer, etc.) in your backyard, you are practicing habitat and/or wildlife management. In their view, unless you are a professional habitat/wildlife manager, this is irresponsible and can lead to many problems. We at Four nature's keepers are professional wildlife/habitat managers and in our opinion, if you manage property, whether it's your backyard, front yard, an industrial site, a swamp, or whatever, you are managing habitat. Every bit of the surface of the Earth is part of a habitat. Turning your yard into a green desert suitable for a billboard promoting lawn care products is a habitat management decision. You are responsible for your habitat and the welfare of every living organism in or on it.
To a great extent, the type of habitat in your area determines what bird species you will encounter. The backyard bird-feeder needs to know what species are in their area and which ones will come to a feeder. With research and development of new products and techniques we believe we will be able to attract more species to feeding sites. By knowing the natural history of the various species in the area, the prospective bird-feeder can make responsible decisions about the types of feeders and foods they will need, as well as where to locate the feeding sites. Getting people involved in backyard bird-feeding is a great step toward connecting with nature and ecology. An obvious extension of bird-feeding is habitat restoration for the benefit of the birds and thereby wildlife in general. "Conservation begins in your backyard and backyard bird-feeding is a great way to start?"
Do wild birds really need to be fed? Can't they find enough food in the wild?
According to the National Audubon Society, many wild bird populations are declining. Reasons for the declines include habitat loss, environmental degradation, seasonal changes, local weather and so on. Birds have a relatively high metabolic rate that requires food on a regular and consistent basis. Many birds die in winter, during droughts, cold spells, prolonged rains and any other conditions that reduce the availability of forage leading to stress, weakness, reduced resistance to disease and parasites, and starvation. Backyard bird-feeding can help sustain birds when natural food supplies are hard to find.
How do we know the nutritional requirements of birds?
Through extensive research, animal nutritionists from the National Research Council have determined the nutritional requirements for optimum physical and reproductive health in a broad range of domestic and captive birds. Information from these studies were used to formulate a similar approach to wild bird nutrition.
Won't feeding birds' complete diets cause them to become dependent on feeders and not forage anymore?
Foraging is instinctive behavior and will not disappear. Backyard bird-feeding has a decades long history and over all the years there is no credible evidence of birds becoming habituated to feeding sites.
Why is it better to use only vegetable based products?
Vegetable based products are easier for birds to digest than suet or tallow products.
Do Avian Cuisine products require special feeding instructions and/or feeders?
Yes. Avian Cuisine products are not your typical backyard bird foods. They are designed to provide birds with complete nutrition rather than just bait to get them to your feeders. Zoo keepers frequently run into the problem of resistance to commercial processed foods. Wild birds often fail to recognize processed diets as foods. It may be necessary to use feeding strategies to induce birds to accept a processed complete diet when it is initially introduced. If you been feeding any seed and/or suet products, we strongly recommend at least a 2 week fast during which NO FOOD is offered prior to offering Avian Cuisine diets. Furthermore, for optimum results with Avian Cuisine products, it is important that no seed or suet products be offered at the same time. This is because seed and suet products are in effect "bird candy" used primarily to attract wild birds not provide them with nutrition. Birds will usually choose "bird candy" over a complete diet like Avian Cuisine Wild Bird Foods. Birds and wildlife in general are like children and will choose the foods they like rather than the ones that are good for them. Standard feeders and cleaning regime should be followed. No bird food should ever be exposed to moisture, direct sunlight, or excessive heat all of which can degrade nutrients.
Why are Avian Cuisine products more expensive than standard wild bird foods?
Because they are nutritionally complete foods including all the nutrients a bird needs for optimum physical and reproductive health. They have significant added value over the typical seed and suet products and are more expensive to produce and market.
Why do some people complain that the birds won't eat your products?
This usually occurs with people who have been feeding standard wild bird foods like seeds, seed mixes, and suet products- "bird candy." Birds are notorious for resisting any change, whether it be feeders, feeding site, or food. If given the opportunity to choose between what they are used to or something new, they will choose the familiar. In foods this is compounded by their inherent preference for "bird candy" over healthy nutritious foods.