Birding/feeding wild birds

Advertisement

Expert: - 2/23/2009


Question
Is it ok to feed dry raw oatmeal to wild birds?

Answer
Sure. Lots of people do that. Some make a mixture of peanut butter and oatmeal. If you are thinking that the oatmeal will swell in the bird's stomach, that's just a myth - like to one about rice. Go right ahead and do it, although I think wild bird food is cheaper.

Birding

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.