Birds of a Feather Lockdown Together: Mutual bird-human benefits during a global pandemic

Feeding backyard wildlife has impure public good characteristics { it can satisfy specific human motivations whilst also improving bird populations. We document a surge in human interest in connecting with wild birds during lockdowns in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Using an event-study design, we find large increases in bird engagement that begin very soon after lockdown. Responses are stronger for areas with more important bird habitat. Investments appear sustained, at the rst beginning with bird feeders, then seed and baths. We estimate that lockdown feeding may increase spring populations of birds that visit feeders by 1-5% and avoided the death of 30,000-161,000 edgling birds, potentially more than offsetting declines in bird populations from habitat loss and pesticide use for 2020. Bird engagement in response to lockdown likely enhanced resilience for both humans and birds alike.