It's ok to feed birds in the winter Jan 23, 2015 5:00 am by jmu@illinois.eduNatural History Survey Share on Facebook Tweet Email Images INHS Avian Ecologist Jeff Hoover was interviewed by The Southern about the ongoing debate of whether or not to fill bird feeders in the winter. “By and large feeding can have a positive effect on birds, particularly in hard winters," Hoover said. Share on Facebook Tweet Email