[vintermann]

I can understand that. But I figure, I live near a huge shopping mall and a golf course, built on what used to be the finest farmland for miles around. The winter flock of crows, probably many thousands strong, still come here every winter.

They're now competing with the endangered seagulls, which used to roost in large colonies on the coast, but due to predation from introduced species (mink), plastic pollution in the ocean and commercial fishing, have now decided it's better to live on the flat roofs of our malls and apartment blocks.

We're messing so much with their lives already. A little kindness on an individual level doesn't seem like it would make things worse. I try not to humanize them too much, let them be birds, let them be wild (in particular I don't try to tempt them to overcome their natural wariness at humans).