Summer bird feeding ban to combat avian diseases

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has issued a warning urging bird lovers to remove their outdoor bird feeders and tables for the summer months to prevent the spread of deadly diseases among garden birds.

Greenfinches and chaffinches struggle with trichomonosis

A parasitic disease called trichomonosis has devastated greenfinch and chaffinch populations in recent years, driving their numbers down by 67% since the 1979 Big Garden Birdwatch survey began. The RSPB estimates that 6 million of these birds have perished due to the disease, which spreads more easily when birds cluster around feeders in warmer months.

While feeding birds is a beloved pastime for millions, the RSPB suggests that people should feed 'safely and seasonally' to protect bird health. This means removing seed and peanut feeders between May 1st and October 31st when the parasites are most active, and instead offering small amounts of high-protein foods like mealworms, fat balls or suet that tend not to attract large flocks.