Covid-related surge in global wild bird feeding: Implications for biodiversity and human-nature interaction

The global extent of supplementary bird feeding is unknown but has consequences for bird conservation and human well-being. Using a measure of search intensity for words related to bird feeding from Google, we document a surge of interest in bird feeding that occurred around the world after Covid-19 led to lockdowns where people stayed home: 115 countries saw an increase in bird feeding search interest. We test whether the existence of interest in bird feeding is associated with greater species richness of bird species, our proxy for biodiversity, and find the relationship is highly significant. Covid-19 lockdowns may have persistent influences on global bird populations and humans' connection to nature.

Automated summary

The Covid-19 lockdowns led to a surge in bird feeding interest around the world, as shown by Google search data. 115 countries experienced an increase in search interest for bird feeding. The study found a significant relationship between interest in bird feeding and greater species richness, indicating the importance for biodiversity.