RSPB Urges Removal of Seed Feeders in Summer to Curb Avian Disease
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has issued new guidance advising gardeners to remove seed and nut feeders between May and October to prevent the spread of trichomonosis, a parasitic disease affecting finch populations. The charity warns that warmer months facilitate easier transmission of the parasite when birds cluster at feeding stations, contributing to a significant decline in species like the greenfinch. Instead of seeds, the RSPB recommends offering small amounts of protein-rich foods such as mealworms, fat balls, or suet during this period. While winter feeding with seeds is considered safer, the organization emphasizes cleaning feeders weekly and avoiding flat surfaces where contaminated food can accumulate. This advice follows data from the Big Garden Birdwatch showing a 67% drop in greenfinch numbers since 1979, with millions of birds lost to the disease in recent years.
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RSPB Urges Removal of Seed Feeders in Summer to Curb Avian Disease
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has issued new guidance advising gardeners to remove seed and nut feeders between May and October to prevent the spread of trichomonosis, a parasitic disease affecting finch populations. The charity warns that warmer months facilitate easier transmission of the parasite when birds cluster at feeding stations, contributing to a significant decline in species like the greenfinch. Instead of seeds, the RSPB recommends offering small amounts of protein-rich foods such as mealworms, fat balls, or suet during this period. While winter feeding with seeds is considered safer, the organization emphasizes cleaning feeders weekly and avoiding flat surfaces where contaminated food can accumulate. This advice follows data from the Big Garden Birdwatch showing a 67% drop in greenfinch numbers since 1979, with millions of birds lost to the disease in recent years.
The Guardian