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Fairly accurate estimates were obtained for the number of silvereyes visiting a feeding station in Dunedin and the amount of food energy required by these birds. From these estimates and the results of the enquiry sent to the public, it was found that in the part of Dunedin city (6,000 acres) where at least 147 people fed birds, more than 7,500 silvereyes spent winter in 1960 and consumed at least 240,000 Calories of artificial food per week. This is as much as one-third of the total energy required by the estimated population. It is likely, therefore, that the natural population of silvereyes is greatly influenced by artificial feeding.