text: what effect do u think this has on the bird populations of the local ecosystem? read this first! some people place bird feeders in their yards. "it's safe to say that feeders are more important to the people who maintain them than to the birds that use them. for people, bird feeders are a great way to connect with nature and enjoy close-up views of some of nature's most colorful and agile creatures. for birds, feeders merely supplement their normal intake of food. even birds that regularly visit feeders obtain only a small percentage of their overall diet from them. however, research on black-capped chickadees has shown that chances of surviving a harsh winter may be greater for birds that have access to feeders. it's likely that this is true for other birds as well."