Do NOT Feed Wild Birds

Support Wild Bird Rescue Dorset and help keep wild birds wild. This powerful, beautifully illustrated message reminds us that wildlife is not content—it’s a life—and that the most loving thing we can do for fledglings is to leave them with their parents, where they learn what to eat, what to avoid, and how to survive.

Celebrate nature the right way: no hand-feeding for clicks, no “cute” videos that can cause real harm, and no risky foods like random garden insects, cat food, or mealworms without expert guidance. The poster’s clear, compassionate advice makes it an essential share for anyone who cares about animals, from casual park-goers to dedicated birdwatchers across Dorset and beyond.

Be part of the movement that protects wild lives—**report harmful wildlife content** and help rescue teams do what they do best. If you see illegal hand-feeding or dangerous posts online, report concerns via the Wildlife Crime Team line: 03001234999.

Wild Bird Rescue Dorset

WHEN DID WILDLIFE BECOME A SOCIAL MEDIA PROP?

Every year, healthy fledgling birds are removed from the wild by people chasing likes, views, followers, and internet fame.

A confused and stressed baby bird being passed around the family is not cool!

Sitting on children's shoulders.

Handled by every man and his dog.

Fed random foods from the kitchen cupboard or garden bugs.

Filmed from every angle.

Turned into an internet superstar.

THIS IS A LIVE WILD ANIMAL!!!

Not a toy!

Not a pet!

Not a social media accessory!

And certainly not a prop for your latest viral video!

What makes this even more frustrating is the confidence with which some people insist they know best.

Foraging bugs from the garden? Not safe.

Many insects are toxic to birds.

Many need disabling before feeding.

Earthworms and other invertebrates can carry nematodes, parasites, and pathogens that can seriously harm a young bird.

Cat food?

In an absolute emergency, perhaps. As a long term feeding plan for a wild songbird? No.

Mealworms?

Fine, if you want to risk calcium deficiency and nutritional disease from feeding dried ones. Live mealworms can also cause serious internal injuries in weak nestlings and fledglings if fed incorrectly by humans (adult birds will disable them before feeding to their young and then teach their babies).

Wild birds do not all eat the same thing!

A robin is not a pigeon.

A wren is not a blackbird.

A blue tit is not a jackdaw.

Parent birds know exactly what their babies need because nature has been refining that process for millions of years.

So the question has to be asked. Who made you the expert?

Because raising a few chickens is not the same as raising a wild insectivore. Watching a few videos online is not the same as rehabilitation training. Oh wait, Google told you? Well sure lets all get a degree in what Google spits out! Or maybe you’re just trying to be something you are not and copying the experts.

Liking wildlife does not make someone qualified to raise it, sharing it all online only promotes cruelty and harm.

Both Chris and I have undertaken Level 3 training in wildlife rehabilitation. We still continue to study, attend courses, work closely with veterinary professionals, and keep up to date with wildlife legislation and rehabilitation standards.

Wild Bird Rescue Dorset is registered with the British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, regularly vet inspected, and operates under strict veterinary oversight because wildlife rehabilitation is a specialist field.

The most heartbreaking part?

Many of these birds never needed rescuing at all.

They needed their parents and socialise with others of their own species.

They needed to be left alone.

Instead they are removed, stressed, handled, fed incorrectly, photographed endlessly, and suddenly become internet famous.

…. Then, a few days later everything goes quiet.

The updates stop.

The videos stop.

The bird has supposedly suddenly "flown away" when anyone asks.

Those of us who do this every single day know that is often not what happened at all.

Stress kills.

Incorrect diets kill.