6 Reasons to Think Twice Before Getting a Bird Feeder Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

6 Reasons to Think Twice Before Getting a Bird Feeder

The expense mess and pests might have you looking for other ways to bird-watch

Philippe Gerber/Getty Images Lenore Foster, 74, used to have bird feeders in the front yard of her home in Kerhonkson, New York. Although Foster loved , she also recalls the hassle of having to find metal storage containers to keep her birdseed safe from rodents. Then there were the squirrels that invaded her feeder, knocking seeds onto the ground and making a mess. A rabid raccoon once took over the feeder, and the birdseed eventually attracted a hungry bear. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. "We watched as a black bear pulled the pole right out of the ground and carried it, along with the feeder, into the woods, never to be seen again,” says Foster. “And that was the end of my bird feeders in the mountains.” Foster is not alone. Many people with bird feeders have had unexpected adventures. “Bird feeders are definitely a responsibility,” says Jordan Rutter, director of public relations for the American Bird Conservancy. “They have a lot of great things that come with them, like being able to have birds closer to you. But they also require regular upkeep, both for your own health and the birds.” Bird feeders can be messy and unhygienic, and they may even put local birds in harm's way. Here are six reasons you may not want a bird feeder.

1 They are messy

are not the cleanest of eaters. They flick seeds and shells all over the ground — “especially with sunflower seeds or peanuts that come in shells,” says Rutter. “Birds don't have teeth, so they're not chewing. But as they are getting to the actual feed they want to eat, they can leave behind remnants of those seeds.” Those leftover seeds can cause unwanted flowers and plants to sprout beneath your feeder. And birds poop frequently, which means droppings all over your bird feeders and the need for frequent cleaning. . “It's not necessarily a direct risk to humans, as you're probably not going to be eating contaminated birdseed yourself. But you might touch it, it might get on your hands, and then you might go eat a snack or something,” he explains. Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > Birds can also carry mites and insects. When Brittany Hodak, 37, and her family put up a bird feeder, they noticed an increase in ticks near their home in Franklin, Tennessee. “Our exterminator told us bird feeders were the number one contributing factor to ticks in our backyard and therefore on our dogs,” she says. “We got rid of the bird feeders and the ticks were gone immediately.” Rodents coming into your yard to eat birdseed may also carry diseases.

6 They can do more harm than good to local wildlife

Many people place bird feeders near windows, but Rutter warns that this can cause birds to fly into glass and become injured or die. To help avoid this, outfit your windows with decals, UV stickers, bird tape, netting or screens to help feathered visitors see the glass. Having a bird feeder can bring lots of kinds of birds into your yard, including invasive nonnative species. “Starlings, for example, will often take over a bird feeder,” Brewerton explains. “They'll actually pretty aggressively chase other birds away from it.” Also, when birds congregate, neighborhood cats can gather to more easily pick them off. More on home-family AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS