The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has issued urgent new guidelines urging people to stop putting out seeds and peanuts for garden birds from May 1 until October 31. The move aims to curb the spread of trichomonosis, a highly contagious disease that proliferates where birds gather in large numbers, such as around feeders.
Disease Threat to Garden Birds
The RSPB warns that bird populations have suffered a worrying decline, partly due to trichomonosis. Greenfinch numbers have plummeted by over 65% since 1979, dropping from seventh to 18th place in the Big Garden Birdwatch rankings. The charity states: 'Research has shown a worrying decline in some of our much-loved garden birds due to a disease called trichomonosis. This is a highly contagious disease and can spread where birds gather in large numbers such as at bird feeders.'
Expert Alternative: Bird-Friendly Planting
Gardening expert Kate Bradbury, writing in her One Garden Against the World Substack, suggests a healthy alternative: bird-friendly planting. She recommends growing sunflowers, teasels, ivy, Zinnias, Echinacea, Black-eyed Susan, and shrubs like Elderberry, Viburnum, and Honeysuckle. These plants provide natural seeds and insects, reducing disease risk as they are smaller food sources spread throughout the garden.
Bradbury says: 'Grow more plants like sunflowers, teasels and ivy, which provide natural sources of seeds and also insects.'
Safe Feeding Practices
For those who continue feeding outside the advised period, the RSPB recommends cleaning and relocating feeders weekly, refreshing water in bird baths daily, and avoiding flat-surfaced feeders like bird tables. The charity emphasizes: 'Stopping the spread of disease is a challenge we can't tackle alone. By taking these simple steps to feed seasonally and safely, we can all help protect the future of our birds.'
