Why you should think carefully before feeding birds

[watervole]

 Recent research has shown that some fatal diseases in garden birds are spread by bird feeders.  The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) stopped selling bird tables several years ago, and have now issued guidelines on what times of our one should not feed at all, and how often seed and suet feeders should be disinfected.

After thinking about it, I've taken down my feeders.  They were getting very little use in recent years, and when I'm unwell, I can't clean them regularly enough.

I still have plenty of plants that attract insects, and a tree with rough bark where I often see small birds looking for food.

Advice from the RSPB 

Comments

[bugshaw]

Thanks, I've made a card to go in my calendar to remind me in May and November what to do and why. I'd heard some talk of this, but the RSPB advice you posted was useful on the what, when and why.

I don't have a lot of useful plants, but next door has been untouched for a good five years and that's where the birds nest undisturbed, lots of ivy on that side of the fence for them.