[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by pacjag

Your feeders will also attract mice and rats, which will then attract snakes and coyotes. Be aware.

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

No need to feed the little birds they have plenty to eat and by doing so you turn them into food for the birds of prey sitting up in a tree waiting for an easy meal when they come to your feeder. And yes there are rodents eating the bird food and snakes eating the rodents.

Originally Posted by Vermilion Villager

That is actually a myth going back 60+ years.
For many years people were putting up houses for Purple Martins and Bluebirds believing these birds ate mosquitoes. In Minnesota they did a study and it was shown Martin's and bluebirds actually ate some mosquitos but not more than any other bird, and not in enough quantity to make a difference. What was discovered was Martin's and bluebirds preyed heavily on dragonflies. Dragonflies are the biggest predator of a mosquito. What people were actually doing is killing the natural predator of the mosquito and making the situation worse.

Yes -- Martins (plural) eat dragonflies but they are not in danger of being eradicated because of the Martins. Martins also eat crickets, worms, suet, and as you mentioned, mosquitos.

Not to worry, the dragonfly population is doing fine.