It's time again for another reader question, and for this week's Mailbag Monday, Ashley from Vermont asks...

"I'm getting married in early August, and I've heard that tossing rice at a wedding can hurt the birds. Is this true?"

The idea that wedding rice is harmful to birds is an urban legend - many granivorous birds will eat rice, even processed rice, without difficulty, though it's not the most nutritious food. An alternative can be tossing birdseed for your wedding exit, but be sure to check with your church or reception site for restrictions on what can be used. Bubbles, sparklers, confetti and rose petals are other popular options.

Do you have a birding question? Submit it to Mailbag Monday, or check out the recent question archive to see what other birders are asking!

Bride and Groom
Photo © Tim Dorr