Don't Feed The Birds!

Hand-Fed Parrots In San Francisco Will Soon Have To Fend For Themselves

(CBS)  As tourist attractions go, San Francisco's wild parrots can be frustratingly unpredictable.

The 200 birds can often be seen swooping near Telegraph Hill, but there is only one place they show up like clockwork. At 5:30 every afternoon, they return to a small park surrounded by high rises, where outstretched hands await, offering sunflower seeds.

In the midst of the urban jungle, two species mingle and share. In exchange for a little food, the parrots bring a lot of happiness, CBS News correspondent John Blackstone reports.

"I was having a bad day and I wanted to talk to the parrots," said one bird-feeder, Sarah Cross.

So, it's therapy?

"Yeah, it's kind of nice," Cross told Blackstone.

There's no doubt the parrots are loved. But is feeding them loving them too much — robbing them of the ability to survive on their own.

One bird lover who's particularly disturbed is Mark Bittner. His book and documentary film, "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill," made the birds famous in the first place.

While he used to feed the birds, he says now the flock is thriving and should not depend on humans.

"My whole thing is to keep them wild, not to make them into like a circus act," Bittner said.

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Watch An Extended Version Of This Story
Blackstone Blogs: The Parrots' Hilton

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Bittner's worries reached City Hall. As of today, public parrot feeding in San Francisco will be banned. Down at the park, that has ruffled plenty of feathers.

"I think law enforcement has better things to do with their time than to be policing a bunch of people trying to feed some birds," Lori Colburn said.

When the law goes into effect, it could mean a misdemeanor charge and a $100 fine, so if the cops show up, it could be the bird feeders who take flight.

The city, it seems, is determined to bite the hands that feed the parrots.

[brianbwb-2009]

Parrots are not native to San Francisco, the seeds given by people are the major source of their food.
The birds are here from man's actions, importing them as pets, then letting them free. Let us use a little common sense and feed them, legislating that we allow them to starve to death doesn't sound so humane to my ears.

[sarcelle]

To chinesespy:
Kill the irresponsability of men who imported them fron the jungle -- not the parrots.

[cst126]

As an avid bird lover, I can see both sides of this debate. First, if we aren't allowed to feed the Parrots, why are we allowed to feed any birds? After all, it is making them dependant on us regardless if the seed are from a feeder or our hands - I don't see the difference. On the flipside, if Mark Bittner's sole reason to not feed them is to avoid making them into a circus act, then I agree. However, then we should not be allowed to feed pigeons, ducks, or any other "wild" animals at public parks, right?

[mytwocentsx1]

Why, oh why can't they feed the parrots? We feed birds everyday with backyard bird feeders, from park benches, etc. It is not their fault that they are now here. They get loose and then they find others and start breeding. When they are hungry, they will find food. Do you think they wait around until 5:30 each day before eating anything? Think again...they eat when they are hungry just like other birds when and where they find food. If they didn't like the people, they wouldn't come down to roost on shoulders, etc. I feed squirrels in my backyard and as much as they like the offerings, they don't come up and sit on my person. Parrots are a sociable animal and are used to being around people. Maybe they are the ones who enjoy the "people circus" everyday. Did anyone think of that? Some of the laws that are being made today are just ludicrous. Pretty soon, we will not have any freedoms because SOMEONE out there will have a gripe about SOMETHING and the lawmakers will pass a law to make it illegal.

[rushlimpdrug]

I will "go out on a limb" and guess there are probably more than 200 birds that have been domesticated in San Francisco being feed daily by their "owners".
Set those birds free also and see how long they last.

Stupid laws are like grains of sand, not meant to be taken seriously. Just feed the birds - laugh at those who scold you, and keep an eye out for the nanny state!

Remember the only laws that are valid are the laws we create for ourselves.

[rasabaka]

chinesespy...you do what?