Bird feeding advice please

I got a little bird feeder this year for the first time. Prior to this I don't know where the birds got their food from. Well, I've noticed that as soon as I fill them up the sparrows devour the lot within a few days.
My worry is that if they come to rely on my food too much they will forget how to forage? Should I leave the feeder empty now and then so that they look elsewhere? I got a feeder to help them along but not for them to rely fully on a human . Come to think of it there aren't many berry producing hedges and trees on my street but there are wild areas not far from me.
What would you do?
My worry is that if they come to rely on my food too much they will forget how to forage? Should I leave the feeder empty now and then so that they look elsewhere? I got a feeder to help them along but not for them to rely fully on a human . Come to think of it there aren't many berry producing hedges and trees on my street but there are wild areas not far from me.
What would you do?
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Once you start feeding, you need to keep going as they will come to rely on the food you put out.
I feed all year round now.
https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1033353/bird-seed#latest
as Fairygirl said, once you start feeding don't stop as they will rely on you, like her I also feed all year around, I hope you enjoy watching them. P.s don't buy cheap bird mix it ends up getting wasted. We fill our feeders up at the end of the day so the early bird can catch the worm so to speak.
Feeding the adults during the hatching and nestling period in spring and summer gives them easy energy to help them forage for juicy insects and larvae to feed their young as they can't get fluids any other way and need lots of protein to grow. This is much better than using insecticides to keep your plants pest free. Once fledged, the young will accompany adults to the feeders and learn to feed there and they'll all have th energy to fly about and find natural forage elsewhere.
They will eat less between mid summer and mid autumn but will benefit greatly from having the extra resources.
I still put out food especially at nesting time and in the winter.Water is also very important both summer (scarce) and winter (frozen).
But I never worry if I have to go away for a few days and can't fill the feeders!
The extra bonus is that the youngsters come too
I only do feeders in summer though - I don't feed on the ground. The blackies and thrushes have plenty elsewhere. They return at this time of year - usually in late October or so when food is less plentiful, and ground is often frozen.
Do you not use sunflower hearts @Rik56? Most small birds love them.
I use an old tin, and daughter kindly labelled it for me 'MEAL WURMZ" with the R written back to front.
Kids eh?
I just put a wee handful or so in the tin, and when I have my first cup of tea of the day, I put a little boiling water in to cover them.By the time cuppa has been drunk, the melaies are ready, and Mr Magpie is chapping on the door waiting for them...