Australians are always told 'don't feed the birds' - if you really must, here's how to do it properly

A magpie with no beak serves as a terrible reminder that in our enthusiasm we can feed our beloved wild birds too much, too often, and the wrong foodsThis year's Guardian/BirdLife Australia bird of the year poll runs from 25 September to 6 October. Nominate your favourite for the shortlistGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastIn an ordinary Melbourne suburb, three magpies are eating small morsels off the ground. But there's something a little strange. One bird flicks its tongue rhythmically in and out like a lizard - though a bird's tongue is usually tucked away, hidden from sight. After a while, something else becomes clear: the magpie is picking the food up with short, moving stumps. The magpie has no beak.This is a scene from a video filmed by a member of the public. It demonstrates a grim truth: that there are life and death consequences of feeding our wild birds.Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading...