While it is not technically illegal to feed native birds in Australia and you are unlikely to be issued with a hefty fine, wildlife experts strongly discourage bird feeding.
Although seed mixes are common, you can attract many different species by putting out a variety of edible things: nuts, berries, chopped fruit, and even frozen peas and corn all work. Although a lot of people offer mincemeat to magpies and kookaburras, we now know this can be harmful.
WIRES does not recommend that you feed any native birds for the following reasons: Most birds eat a balanced diet; 90% eat insects and nectar, seed or fruit. People feeding birds the wrong food changes the balance of their diet and can negatively impact their health.
Generally, it is not okay to feed wildlife. A moment's pleasure for you may result in future problems for animals and people. Processed seeds, bread and other foods that are not part of an animal's natural diet can make them very sick.
It is not against the law to feed wild birds BUT feeding the birds on a regular basis is not doing our feathered friends of the species on a whole, any favours. Wild birds are capable of feeding themselves and encouraging them to congregate in masses can have a detrimental effect on all parties involved.
There are no federal laws prohibiting the feeding of native birds in Australia.
The diet of a magpie
Their main diet in summer is grassland invertebrates, such as beetles, flies, caterpillars, spiders, worms and leatherjackets. In winter, they eat more plant material, such as wild fruits, berries and grains, with household scraps and food scavenged from bird tables or chicken runs, pet foods etc.
Feeding native birds is strongly discouraged as it can lead to health problems or even death for the birds, and issues such as mess and noise for neighbours.
CHOOSING A LORIKEET
It is illegal to take native birds from the wild to keep in an aviary. A healthy lorikeet will be bright and active with smooth feathers. Make sure that the beak is clean, the eyes clear and bright and that there are no broken feathers. The feet should also be clean and the nails not too long.
As noted earlier, cockatoos are unprotected wildlife in certain situations allowing anyone specified in the GiC Order to shoot these birds on the property where the damage is occurring. Shooting is a common technique used to control cockatoos, and may result in a short-term behaviour change.
Raw meat, cheese and bread off the menu
Brisbane bird and exotic animal vet Deborah Monks said raw meat and mince, although popular, did the most damage to magpie health. "I wouldn't recommend raw mince on its own because it doesn't have enough calcium in it," she said.
Apples, pears, strawberries, grapes, melon, peaches and cherries are preferred. Try to avoid acidic fruits like orange, lemon, tangerine and mandarin as these may upset their stomach. Vegetables. Greens are good- try lettuce or celery sticks.
Black oil sunflower seeds are the most common and are great for most songbirds, while the larger striped sunflower seeds are suitable for larger birds with stronger bills. Hulled sunflower kernels and chips are also popular with smaller birds because they are easier to eat, though they can be more expensive.
“The main things people will feed them is mince or dog kibble but both are not good for magpies. Mince is too high in different nutrient levels - often too much fat – as in the wild, they are feeding on leaner foods.”
Never feed lorikeets processed foods, like bread. Don't ever feed lorikeets grains. ONLY feed lorikeets healthy food scraps.
Although there are certainly some birds that are a little more greedy than others - birds are clever when it comes to their eating habits and will tend to not overeat. They are in tune with how much food is required to see them through the day and will quickly learn what their bodies need to sustain their activities.
Feeding lorikeets can cause disease and death
Symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy and regurgitation. Necrotizing enteritis is associated with poor hygiene and an inadequate diet. The disease is not normally associated with lorikeets living a natural way of life.
Rainbow lorikeets cause significant damage to commercial table grape crops in the Swan Valley and orchard fruit crops in the Perth hills. The lorikeets damage suburban garden fruit and flowers, foul outdoor areas and vehicles with droppings and harass and compete with native birds.
Bird breeders and recreational owners can now keep rainbow lorikeets without a licence after a revision of the regulations. The National Parks Service's revised list of native birds has added three species that have seen an increase in illegal trafficking.
While it's common to leave mincemeat for the laughing bird, it doesn't provide the nutrients kookaburras need. In an article published on Australian Geographic, mincemeat is described as being similar to “a late-night cheeseburger.” Kookaburras are carnivores, so feed on mice, snakes and small reptiles.
The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage warns against feeding birds due to the detrimental effects of malnutrition (from eating inappropriate food), the potential for the spread of disease and the likelihood of their becoming pests. Some councils issue fines for feeding in certain circumstances.
Dishes people consume, like bread, are generally bad for birds in the same way that junk food is bad for our systems. “Malnutrition is certainly a risk if birds aren't getting the food that they need,” says John Rowden, senior director for bird-friendly communities at Audubon.
They definitely recognise faces. Been swooped by maggies plenty of times but they seem to do it more as a warning. Butcher birds are worse, they actually try and get your eyes.
Kookaburras are not selective feeders. They feed on a wide range of food sources depending on what is available. They eat snakes, lizards, small mammals, frogs, rodents, bugs, beetles and worms.