Trenton, NJ – As spring blossoms across New Jersey, bringing the cheerful chirps of returning migratory birds, a contentious proposal in Trenton threatens to silence a backyard tradition: bird feeding.
Lawmakers are considering a statewide ban on bird feeders, driven by concerns over avian disease and ecological disruption, just as the state’s feathered residents kick off their nesting season.
That ban is not only bad news for bird lovers; it could mean bad news for ‘big bird,’ the industry that manufactures everything from feeders to packaged bird seed products.
The idea stems from growing evidence of health risks tied to bird feeders.
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, feeders can become hotspots for diseases like avian pox and conjunctivitis, which spread rapidly when birds congregate in close quarters.
A 2021 study from the lab noted that house finches, common at New Jersey feeders, are particularly susceptible to Mycoplasmal conjunctivitis, a bacterial infection that can blind and kill. The National Audubon Society has also warned that poorly maintained feeders can harbor moldy seed or attract pests like rats, posing broader environmental hazards.
The proposed ban, inspired by real-world precedents like temporary feeder restrictions in states such as Oregon during a 2022 salmonellosis outbreak, would aim to safeguard New Jersey’s 700+ bird species, including spring migrants like the Eastern Bluebird and Baltimore Oriole.
A 2023 survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that over 50 million Americans feed wild birds annually, with New Jersey’s birding community—bolstered by groups like NJ Audubon—among the most active.
The bill was unanimously moved on the Senate committee floor on December 19th by a vote of 5-0. Nilsa Cruz, Kristin Corrado, Britnee Timberlake, Shirley Turner, and Joseph Pennacchio all voted yes.