Gardeners with robins, sparrows and finches in gardens urged to change 1 thing

are being urged to choose the correct bird feeder to protect wildlife against a deadly disease spreading across the UK.  Trichomonosis, also known as “canker” or “frounce”, is a disease caused by a parasite that affects a wide range of bird species, though it is most well-known for its impact on greenfinches.

This microscopic parasite infects the tissues in a bird’s mouth, throat, and oesophagus, making it difficult for the bird to eat and breathe, ultimately leading to a decline in the populations of goldfinches and chaffinches. The recently suspended sales of and other flat surface feeders, which are a breeding ground for parasites, fungal infections and deadly diseases. While greenfinches and chaffinches are particularly susceptible to this disease, other birds – including sparrows, pigeons, doves, yellowhammers, goldfinches, dunnocks, great tits, siskins, and bullfinches – have also been affected.

With nesting season underway, Lucy Taylor, garden bird expert for Vine House Farm, has outlined the best bird feeders that will protect your garden birds from disease transmission. 

“Feeding our garden birds remains as important as ever, with the move from the RSPB on highlighting the risks of feeding from flat surfaces, just increasing the need for other and safer methods,” said Lucy. “Ideally, you should be using hanging seed feeders to limit the spread of diseases like Trichomonosis.”

According to the expert, one of the most important things you can do to help birdlife is to avoid or replace feeders which have a built-in catch tray.

She said: “The problem with trays, which sit below feeders, is that they can quickly build up harmful waste including faeces, which birds will rummage through looking for food.

“Even if the tray is kept clean, a finch infected with Trichomonosis can drop food onto the tray, which another finch next to it may then quickly pick up and become infected as well. It is also important to regularly move feeders to different positions in a garden to stop the ground below the tray from becoming contaminated.”

Buy a bird seeder that can be taken apart

Hanging seed feeders can still present a serious risk of disease transmission in garden birds if they’re not kept clean.

“You should buy a feeder which can easily be taken apart and put back together for easier cleaning, and avoid buying feeders that make it difficult to maintain,” said Lucy.

Choose feeders with round perches

Certain birds struggle on anything other than a round perch, accoriding to the expert.

“Robins and Chaffinches struggle to perch on feeders with straight perches. Feeders with round perches, on the other hand, effectively act as more of a platform, so more species of small songbird can feed,” she said.

Avoid buying cheap seed feeders

Lucy added: “The plastic tube on cheap feeders will often discolour quickly and crack, plus low-quality plastic fittings are unlikely to last long – especially if you have grey squirrels visiting your garden.”

Buy squirrel-proof feeders

Grey squirrels can dominate bird feeders to the point of discouraging small birds from feeding.

Lucy said: “If this is a problem for you, use a squirrel-proof feeder. This might consist of a metal cage around the feeder to prevent squirrels getting to the seed, or a spring-loaded mechanism which closes the feeder’s ports with the weight of a squirrel on a perch. So if you want to discourage squirrels, then go for one of these options.”

Larger feeders are typically better value for money

“Usually, the larger the feeder the better value for money it is. For example, a feeder with six ports often costs only about 50% more than a small feeder with just two ports. The reason is that the base and top are the same for both sizes, plus the plastic tube – even though longer – makes up the smallest cost of the whole feeder. The other benefit of a larger feeder is that more birds can feed at once,” said the expert.