Re: [cayugabirds-l] Jelly or no jelly - that is the question

[John Gregoire]

Laura, I no longer have access to good research papers but recollect a
study promoted by CLO that spoke to avian nutrition and honeysuckle.The
bottom line was that birds derived nothing of nutritional value.

I found that in direct conflict with the birds' denuding every honeysuckle
in sight when the berries became ripe. Gray-stemmed dogwood is another
example of knowledgeable research claims that were in conflict with
observed bird feeding preferences.

The upshot is better safe than story as we will never observe the health
results of feeding either wild food, seed or jelly. I think we all know
that the varieties of suet cake are no more than dales pitches
targeting human desires/preferences. We ran a study with a then local suet
cake manufacturer and found that a simple suet cake with no additives was
preferred by all.

Thanks for pursuing this

John

On Fri, May 10, 2024 at 9:34 AM Laura Stenzler  wrote:

> Hi all,
>  I have been feeding grape jelly to birds for years and find the recent
> discussion about whether that is good or bad for birds very interesting,
> and at the same time distressing.  Can anyone who has been suggesting that
> feeding jelly is bad point to any study that has shown this to be true
> (jelly which does not have preservatives nor food coloring) ?
>
> I have been looking at the scientific literature (using google scholar)
> for any credible studies that suggest feeding sucrose-laden jelly (white
> sugar is sucrose) is bad for the birds which we see coming to snack
> (orioles, rose-breasted grosbeaks, catbirds, downy woodpeckers, house
> finch) and have found nothing that supports this claim.  While here are
> many studies looking at digestion in wild birds, nutrition of fruits and
> seeds, affects of supplemental feeding (seeds, not jelly) I have found
> nothing so far that suggests that feeding jelly is harmful.  Generally, it
> seems birds select foods from which they derive nutrition and for which
> their digestive systems are able to process.  I have also not found any
> study that looks specifically at the effects on birds of consuming jelly.
>
> So, I have decided to feed more oranges and to cut back on the jelly, but
> not to eliminate it entirely. Wild birds seem able to know what is good for
> them.
>
> Any thoughts?
> Laura
>
>
> Laura Stenzler
> l...@cornell.edu
> --
>
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> 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/
>
> Please submit your observations to eBird:
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>
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>
>

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[cayugabirds-l] Jelly or no jelly - that is the question

[Laura Stenzler]

Hi all,
 I have been feeding grape jelly to birds for years and find the recent 
discussion about whether that is good or bad for birds very interesting, and at 
the same time distressing.  Can anyone who has been suggesting that feeding 
jelly is bad point to any study that has shown this to be true (jelly which 
does not have preservatives nor food coloring) ?

I have been looking at the scientific literature (using google scholar) for any 
credible studies that suggest feeding sucrose-laden jelly (white sugar is 
sucrose) is bad for the birds which we see coming to snack (orioles, 
rose-breasted grosbeaks, catbirds, downy woodpeckers, house finch) and have 
found nothing that supports this claim.  While here are many studies looking at 
digestion in wild birds, nutrition of fruits and seeds, affects of supplemental 
feeding (seeds, not jelly) I have found nothing so far that suggests that 
feeding jelly is harmful.  Generally, it seems birds select foods from which 
they derive nutrition and for which their digestive systems are able to 
process.  I have also not found any study that looks specifically at the 
effects on birds of consuming jelly.  

So, I have decided to feed more oranges and to cut back on the jelly, but not 
to eliminate it entirely. Wild birds seem able to know what is good for them.

Any thoughts?
Laura
   

Laura Stenzler
l...@cornell.edu
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[cayugabirds-l] Sunday, May 12th Cayuga Bird Trip

[Gladys J Birdsall]

Hi All, I will be leading a bird walk at the Cornell Botanical Gardens 
Arboretum on Sunday, May 12th.  Dress for the weather. The walk is open 
to all.

Gladys Birdsall


*Cornell Botanical Gardens Newman Arboretum
Sunday May 12, 2024, 7:30 am to 11:00 am. *
/Trip Leader: Gladys Birdsall/

We will walk the trails in the Newman Arboretum looking for migrating 
warblers, and other songbirds. Swallows and herons may be around the 
pond.  Meet in the parking area near the Houston Pond. We will be back 
to the cars by 11 AM. For more information or if you have questions, 
email Gladys at g...@outlook.com .

This link has a map showing where Houston Pond is.

https://cornellbotanicgardens.org/explore/in-f-r-newman-arboretum/

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