Anyone who regularly puts food out for birds in their garden should be mindful of RSPB guidance
UK households that regularly feed wild birds in their gardens are urged by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) to ‘pause’. The guidance aims to reduce the spread of an infection that has severely reduced the population of certain birds.
The RSPB recommends stopping the use of seed and peanut feeders from May 1 to October 31. Doing so can help fight the spread of trichomonosis, a parasite that has greatly reduced the numbers of greenfinches and chaffinches.
Between May and October, having too many birds at feeders can boost the spread of the disease. The RSPB says it’s better to give only small amounts of mealworms or suet and keep everything very clean.
On its website, the RSPB says: “We can help stop the spread of disease among garden birds by making two simple shifts to how we feed birds. Put simply: Feed seasonally. Feed safely.
“During summer and autumn, there’s a higher risk of disease spreading. But it’s also when there are more natural foods available to birds, such as seeds and insects.”
From May 1 to October 31, the charity says people should “pause filling bird feeders with seeds or peanuts”. However, it adds: “You can continue to offer small amounts of mealworms, fatballs or suet.” High-energy foods like fat balls, suet, and mealworms are less likely to carry the disease and support nesting birds.
This new advice comes after extensive research showing that feeding in warm weather significantly increases the spread of disease. Feeding can go back to normal from November to April. Between November 1 and April 30, the RSPB says: “You can feed your birds a full range of bird foods, including seeds and peanuts.”
To reduce the risk of infection, the RSPB recommends washing bird feeders weekly and changing their locations in the garden to prevent dirty waste from piling up. It’s best to avoid bird tables and tray feeders because they can collect a lot of germs. Plus, remember to clean bird baths weekly and replace the water daily with fresh tap water.
What is trichomonosis, and which birds are at risk?
Garden bird trichomonosis is a sickness caused by a tiny parasite called Trichomonas gallinae. This parasite creates sores in the throat, making it hard for birds to swallow food and water.
As a result, affected birds often lose weight and can even starve to death. It is believed that this parasite spreads through food that birds regurgitate and through fresh saliva. This can happen directly, as when parents feed their chicks, or indirectly, when they eat food or drink water contaminated with pathogens.
Trichomonosis has been reported in many other types of garden birds, but finches seem particularly vulnerable, according to the RSPB. Studies show that both Chaffinch and Greenfinch are less likely to survive in suburban areas than in rural ones, suggesting that gardens and supplemental feeding may be a factor.
What are the signs of trichomonosis in garden birds?
Besides showing common signs of illness, such as being tired and having ruffled feathers, birds affected by illness might drool, vomit, struggle to swallow, or breathe heavily. It’s often noticed that finches have wet, messy feathers around their face and food stuck to their beaks.
