I bought a flat bird table, which was an instant mistake (Image: Alex Evans)
It’s sod’s law really. For months on end, I’ve been writing about how to feed birds, the best bird feeders, which birds to feed when, and why feeding the birds in your garden is so important in both the summer and the winter.
As ad nauseum, it’s so important to help the birds in our because UK bird populations have dropped by about 16% since the 1970s, while insect populations – which feed birds – are thought to be down by as much as an astonishing 40%.
In the face of this daunting ecological collapse happening around us, what’s a few sunflower seeds and raisins?
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So I decided, after many months of issuing warnings, to put my money where my mouth is and get a bird feeder. I took a trip to my local centre and proudly handed over twenty-two Great British Pounds sterling for a spiffing new bird table.
I’d felt really happy with myself, setting my new slate-roofed table in my , scattering it with seeds and suet, and then waiting to see what happened.
Within a few days, I had several bluetits and a robin land on it, which gave me no end of joy like the sad old man I’ve become.
Until I saw the RSPB’s warning. It turns out, , over fears they spread diseases.
It’s not yet confirmed, but there is some suggestion that there could be a link between flat bird tables, where food is left out in the rain exposed to the elements, and the spread of a virus.
Iolo Williams, speaking on Winterwatch, said: “The RSPB are increasingly concerned that people putting food out on flat surfaces such as the floor of bird tables are actually helping the spread of diseases that affect some of our garden birds, especially finches.
“They believe that the food is left to the elements, it gets wet, it mixes with faeces, and that facilitates the spread of some of those diseases.
Upright feeders like these are still safe (Image: Getty)
“They are actually so concerned that they’ve commissioned a study and they’ve also stopped selling bird tables.”
Of course. Just days after I parted with £22.
So now, I’ve taken to clearing all the seeds off the table every two days, and scrubbing it with hot soapy water in between adding seed, which feels like a lot more trouble than it’s worth to be honest – and I’ll be trudging back to the centre looking for an upright, contained tube feeder instead, which the RSPB is still selling.
If you’re planning on feeding the birds – and it’s a great thing to do to help the world – don’t make my mistake!