rice and sparrows?

Question

i was told that rice will kill a sparrow is this true, or is this just another wives tail?

then how else can i get rid of birds in my bard without poisen because of my dogs?

Answer 1

No, it is a complete myth.

People say things like rice makes pigeons explode or that it expands in their stomachs and kills them... not true.

If rice killed birds, there would be a lot of dead or exploding pet birds (lots of owners, myself included, feed rice to our birds. Cooked brown rice is best).

Answer 2

NO - Rice does not kill birds. And it's hard to believe that people keep spreading this myth.

If you can't deal with nature, maybe you should consider living in a cave. (I hope you like bats).

Aside from being illegal, attempting to eliminate the birds from your yard is a futile attempt. Any birds you kill will be replaced by other birds - possibly more.

Using poison - outside, in the natural environment is ignorant. Poisons leach into gardens, vegetables, and water sources. You could easily poison yourself, your dogs, your neighbors, or their pets. You could kill off every living thing within a mile, and you'll still have birds.

We are not alone on this planet. You need to accept the fact that we live on this planet - with nature. Our survival depends on the survival of wildlife. We need nature. We don't need people who would destroy it.

When you look out into your yard and see the birds, you should be grateful.

Answer 3

Complete myth. The highly respected publication Bird Watcher's Digest ran an article debunking popular myths about birds, including the rice myth and the Alka Seltzer myth. The article stated:

1. You should not throw rice at the bride and groom at weddings because birds eat it and it swells up in their stomach and kills them. Sometimes the myth goes that it causes them to explode.
Not true. If it were, there would be exploding bird stories all over the national press every June. Think about it. Lots of birds feast in rice fields every year, irritating rice farmers to distraction. If eating rice caused birds to explode, most rice fields would look like a popcorn machine in the harvest season, with little puffs and explosions providing constant entertainment. Quite a vision, and one that the press would never miss.

And there is no difference between rice in fields and rice in bags from the supermarket. Birds have no trouble digesting rice, or any other "expanding" vegetable. I am all in favor of throwing birdseed at weddings, which is what proponents of this myth urge as a solution. I like the symbolism of throwing birdseed. But rice is fine, too.

4. Exploding gulls.
Another exploding bird myth. I wonder why we are so attached to myths where something blows up. Must be the drama.

This myth proposes that if you feed a gull an Alka Seltzer tablet it will swallow the offering and when the lethal charge gets into the stomach and dissolves, the expanding gasses will cause the bird to explode. Every year there is another story about some mean kids doing this. Oddly, it always involves New Jersey.

After you stop giggling at the image of gulls exploding like flying land mines all over the Jersey shore, the unlikelihood of the myth starts to intrude. If it were true, it would be a big story. I can see the coverage now: Dan Rather in his safari jacket, standing on the windswept coast, hair blowing in the wind, gull feathers raining down in the background; PBS specials (who can resist the vision of a gull, cheerfully flying along and then suddenly exploding, right in front of the camera?); exposés in the tabloids.

If the body could not handle a little Alka Seltzer without an explosion, it wouldn't be legal to sell the stuff over the counter. If it caused gulls to explode, there would be a rash of reports every year. I do not know the physiological process by which the body processes a tablet swallowed whole (and I have no interest in trying), but I assume it involves, among other things, a fair amount of belching and a slightly gassy feeling. Actually, if I ate some of the stuff that gulls do, I would be thrilled to have a little relief, but they seem to do fine without it.

http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/backyard_birds/myths/myths.aspx



As for the second part of your question - all native migratory birds in the US are protected under federal law (Migratory Bird Treaty Act). It is illegal to kill, injure, or even harass these protected birds.

The best means of getting rid of them is to make your yard less inviting. Remove all sources of food (if you have fruit and berry trees and bushes, get rid of them or put protective netting over them.) Do not waste your money on fake owls and rubber snakes - the birds get used to them and it does not keep them away. Use whirleygigs and pinwheels and anything that moves. Hang old CDs with ribbon from your tree limbs or the roof of your porch. Life like effigies of predators such as cats, hawks and owls, made from cardpoard or poster paper and hung to move in the breeze, will help deter birds.

But why would you want to get rid og the birds in your yard? They eat many insect pests, help pollinate flowers, help distribute seeds, and are a joy to see and listen to!

Answer 4

It isn't true.
Anything a bird swallows, can be regurgitated again if it proves indigestible. Meat eating birds regurgitate the bones of animals they have swallowed. Birds swallow rocks and later spit them out. So, it makes no sense to think they couldn't regurgitate the rice too if they couldn't process it.
Besides, a lot of birds live and feed in rice fields.
Did you know that other grains besides rice will expand when cooked? Yet we feed them to birds.

Answer 5

urban legend.
Completely false.
Birds have eaten rice in the wild for centuries.

Answer 6

No, don't put some, the second answer -- gah ..

Rice can kill a bird because it expands in their stomach ..

ADD: Wow, I had no idea .. I've always heard that rice would kill a bird. I have lots to learn! :) Exclude my answer.

Answer 7

rice will kill any bird. it expands in their stomach. put some out...you'll find out... :(

Answer 8

Yes ,is true!