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UK households with bird feeders issued major warning as rain returns

The RSPB has issued advice to bird lovers

[Feeding the birds]

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Bird feeders can be a lifeline - but also a disease risk(Image: Getty)

Enthusiasts who feed garden birds are being cautioned that a simple refill of mealworms, fatballs or suet at feeding stations could pose dangers to wildlife during the summer months. With rainfall predicted across parts of the UK following weeks of dry conditions, while feeders can prove beneficial, they risk becoming hotspots for harmful bacteria.

One of the most significant dangers facing wild birds is trichomonosis, a parasitic infection that can prove fatal and spreads through saliva or contaminated food and water sources. As birds gather around feeders during summer - with warmer conditions allowing the parasite to survive longer outside its host - the risk of transmission can escalate rapidly.

This guidance emerges as wet weather returns to numerous areas of the UK this week. Rainfall can leave uneaten food and nearby surfaces moist, making it more challenging to maintain hygienic bird-feeding zones.

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The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) states that best practice for anyone maintaining a bird feeder is straightforward - clean it on a weekly basis. Employ hot, soapy water and replace stale food to completely remove any residual disease.

Carry out the cleaning outside and wear protective gloves. Initially, dispose of any remaining seed into an outdoor household bin (avoid reusing or composting it), then completely take apart the feeder so that every component can be accessed, reports the Express.

Scrub all components in a bucket of hot, soapy water using a brush to remove old food residue and droppings, then rinse thoroughly. Disinfect using a non-toxic solution such as Ark-Klens or a diluted 5% bleach solution, rinse once more with clean water, and leave everything outdoors to dry fully before reassembling and refilling; finish by washing your hands and forearms thoroughly with soap and water.

[European goldfinch bird eating at a bird feeder]

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People with bird feeders have been given a reminder(Image: Getty)

The positioning of your feeder is equally important, with householders advised against hanging them beneath popular roosting spots such as trees. Droppings can fall into feeding areas and spread contamination from one bird to another.

The charity also recommends relocating feeders on a weekly basis where possible, stating it will "reduce the number of birds in one place and the mixing of different species".

If I see a sick bird, what should I do?

People are currently urged to observe the RSPB's 'pause' on filling bird feeders with seeds or peanuts until October 31 to stop the spread of disease among garden birds. Between November 1 and May 1, garden owners are encouraged to support wild birds with a full range of bird foods - including mealworms, fatballs or suet.

Should you notice signs of disease amongst garden birds, it is advisable to cease feeding for a minimum of three weeks and empty any bird baths. Only resume putting food out once you are no longer observing birds displaying symptoms of illness.

Treating wild birds is seldom advised, and it may be more humane to allow them to remain in their natural habitat. Any illness or fatalities amongst garden wildlife should be reported to the Garden Wildlife Health (GWH) project, a collaborative initiative between ZSL, the BTO, Froglife and the RSPB which monitors the health of British wildlife and tracks disease threats.

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