<P> `` Feed the Birds '' is a song written by the Sherman Brothers ( Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman ) and featured in the 1964 motion picture Mary Poppins . The song speaks of an old beggar woman ( the `` Bird Woman '' ) who sits on the steps of St Paul 's Cathedral , selling bags of breadcrumbs to passers - by for twopence a bag so that they can feed the many pigeons which surround the old woman . The scene is reminiscent of the real - life seed vendors of Trafalgar Square , who began selling birdseed to passers - by shortly after its public opening in 1844 . </P>
where do they feed the birds in mary poppins
on the steps of St Paul 's Cathedral