Gardeners have been urged to follow a “one-to-two-day” rule when leaving food out for birds, as new guidance is issued to help tackle the spread of a deadly avian illness. In April, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) shared updated advice as part of a push to tackle the spread of diseases in gardens, particularly the trichomonosis parasite.
The bug, which finches are especially – but not solely – vulnerable to, is known to have devastated Greenfinch and Chaffinch populations, and its declining numbers may also be leading to a “rapid decline amongst Bullfinches”, the organisation said. Trichomonosis is a contagious disease caused by a parasite that targets the upper digestive tract and throat of birds. This results in lesions in the gullet that stop the bird from swallowing and can cause them to starve.
In the summer months, the disease can thrive as birds gather in groups at feeders, with sick ones regurgitating food they can’t swallow and thereby infecting others.
The RSPB’s Feed Seasonally, Feed Safely guidance is now calling for a change to how people go about feeding, including limiting food left out between May 1 and October 31 to small amounts of suet, fatballs, and mealworms in the peak outbreak periods of summer and autumn.
The organisation anticipates that ceasing to lay on seeds and peanuts (which finches are partial to) will encourage them to find the plentiful natural sources of food available in the summer and early autumn, and reduce the risk of outbreaks.
The RSPB also laid out other ways you can help protect birds by reducing the chances of them being exposed to food contaminated by infected birds.
This includes keeping feeders clean and moving them regularly to prevent debris buildup that may carry disease, and not leaving them under trees and other places where birds roost, raising the risk of infected birds defecating on feed for other birds.
It’s also calling for feeding in “moderation”, as it cited an evidence review into feeding garden birds that found “strong evidence that supplementary feeding promotes the spread of diseases in gardens”.
As part of its new “strengthened hygiene guidance”, it asks households to ensure “all the food you put out is eaten within one to two days”.
“Adjust the amount you offer based on demand to avoid overfeeding,” it adds.
You can find the guidance in full on the RSPB’s website.
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