FAQ - Can I Feed Salted Peanuts to the Birds?

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ATTENTION

Our eyes and ears should be open and alert to the natural wonders that surround us every day. Take time to look out our windows to see the birds that visit us and open our windows to hear them. Walk around whatever space we have to enjoy the birds in nature. Every day, work on improving our powers of observation.

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Birdfeeding comes with responsibilities to the birds and the environment we share with them. If you are unwilling to accept these responsibilities, you shouldn’t feed the birds. We also have a responsibility to share these natural wonders with the next generation.

April 26, 2012

FAQ - Can I Feed Salted Peanuts to the Birds?

Q. Can I feed salted peanuts to the birds?

A. We recommend against it. Here's why:

There is no scientific data to prove that the periodic use of salted peanuts does harm to birds. This is partly because of the very small amount of salt usually found on peanuts and the fact that peanuts typically make up a small percentage of a feeder bird's daily diet. The availability of fresh water also helps mitigate salt's dehydrating effects.

But it is fact that large doses of salt can be fatal to songbirds. Without additional research to set the levels of salt ingestion that are irrefutably safe, our recommendation will be to provide unsalted peanuts for feeding birds whenever possible.

Response adapted from material from WBU, Inc.

Posted at 10:45 AM in FAQs, Feeder Birds, Food for Birds, Responsibility | Permalink

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Margaret - thanks!

Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | April 28, 2012 at 12:20 PM

Agreed; better to be safe than sorry. Some studies have implicated ingestion of roadsalt, via gritting, to disoriented/low flying, which makes birds more susceptible to car strikes.

PS Nice spot on VoxPop yesterday. I never realized that the big "splat" on your windshield could in fact be a fecal sac. Better than a water balloon!

Posted by: Margaret | April 27, 2012 at 06:14 AM

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