Observation of Bird Social Distancing Behavior During Pandemic

community · April 2020 · Denman Island

A local writer observed that many bird species visiting a feeder on Denman Island practice physical separation consistent with social distancing guidelines, with the exception of hummingbirds which are more aggressive. The writer reflects on birds as examples for humans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is the archive, not the newspaper. Between 2018 and 2026 this site compiled these items automatically from public community sources — chiefly The Islands Grapevine, regional news feeds and community groups. They were not written by a reporter and were not held to the standards this publication now applies. The archive is kept because it is a useful dated record of what happened on Denman, and it is labelled because pretending otherwise would be the first thing we would tell you not to trust. Current reporting is at The Denman Firestarter.

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“Most birds... practice separation... only ever one bird on either side of the feeder... humming birds refuse to comply... they zoom around rushing at one another... Most birds... are a good example of social/physical separation.” — The Islands Grapevine – April 23rd, 2020 (April 23rd, 2020)

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