flowerbug
Garden Master
your local birds are probably carrying some diseases but they are likely also adapted to them, it is when you get the seasonal migration birds that come from a long ways which can carry unusual diseases. having any kind of congregating spot for them where they might mingle those diseases is probably not a great idea.
we encourage birds in our yard and gardens by having birdbaths, we don't feed them - those bags of bird seed can include invasive weeds - they are encouraged to forage for bugs and weed seeds. we keep the birdbaths washed out and cleaned at regular intervals. it seems to be working out ok.
if you want to feed the birds i would encourage you to plant things that they can eat throughout the year. we have some berry bushes which we can't eat but the birds are often in them throughout the winter months going after those berries and seeds.
we encourage birds in our yard and gardens by having birdbaths, we don't feed them - those bags of bird seed can include invasive weeds - they are encouraged to forage for bugs and weed seeds. we keep the birdbaths washed out and cleaned at regular intervals. it seems to be working out ok.
if you want to feed the birds i would encourage you to plant things that they can eat throughout the year. we have some berry bushes which we can't eat but the birds are often in them throughout the winter months going after those berries and seeds.