Is Bird Feeding Ethical?

This week saw the beginning of spring and the beginning of our class, Snapshot of 21st Century Nature Study.  Perfect!

One of the first assignments is to capture ethics or safety in nature in a photograph.  What would I choose?  There are many options, but I chose to think about ethical behaviors in nature.  Often people are so fascinated with animals that they get too close.  Or they interfere with nature, thinking that they are "helping" nature.

I came across the later situation on my January trip to Puerto Vallarta.

This little sea turtle had just hatched and some well meaning humans scooped them up to take them to the sea, thus interfering with an ancient ritual--the hatchlings struggle to reach the sea.  I understand that these are endangered species; there were signs all around that declared this a turtle sanctuary.  But those signs also cautioned against handling the animals.  We were to call authorities.  Frankly, I wanted to watch the struggle to the sea, and these people had tainted that experience for me.

But, closer to home, another ethical dilemma involves human intervention.  What about my bird feeders?  Am I interfering with nature?  Is it OK in one instance and not in another?  I'm not sure.

When we put out feed for birds, we alter their behavior.  In most instances, we are not "helping".  Those birds would find food elsewhere. Just as the hatchlings would make it to the sea.

In concentrating birds at feeders, are we exposing them to diseases and predators (I have seen the Cooper's Hawk pick off a few)?  So is ethical to feed birds?

It could be argued that the winter we just went through was particularly difficult and feeders did save some individuals.  Just as taking the hatchlings to the sea may save a few individuals. But isn't this interfering with nature's population dynamics and survival of the fittest?

So, while I struggle with this dilemma, I still feed the birds and refuse to handle the sea turtles. I want to see the turtles, just as I feed birds so that I can see them better.  While I know I am not "helping" birds much, I hope I am not hurting much either.