My new column in The Record's Better Living section today addresses that age-old question: Should you feed wild birds only in winter or year-round?

(The photo of the Red-bellied Woodpecker is by Barbara Dilger. Thanks, Barbara!)

The short answer: it's complicated. The column addresses the reasons why and not, with a look at the definitive book on the subject of feeding birds, "Birds at My Table: Why We Feed Wild Birds and Why It Matters," by Darryl Jones of Australia.  

After reading the book, I sent Darryl some followup questions, He responded:

"I've been a back yard birder for 30 years but only feeding seriously for about five.

I live in the subtropics so there's no actual winter. So feeding is year-round but always from a low intervention perspective.

I am not trying to provide all the nutrients required just a potentially useful snack.

It would be different if we had a brutal winter but we are experiencing a terrible extended drought and so our modest provisions may be important.

You can download the column here:

Download TheRecord Bird Watcher Wright 20191212-BL03-0