Bird tables could be spreading disease and the RSPB has pulled them from sale (Image: Getty)
An urgent warning has been issued to anyone who has a bird table in their garden – after the RSPB suspended sales of all bird tables.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has taken the decision to pause all sales of bird tables following the spread of a fatal bird disease this winter, which it fears could be exacerbated by the use of bird tables.
The charity is undertaking a safety review and has pulled bird tables from sale for the time being until the findings come back.
This is because of fears the bird tables could be spreading disease this , especially among finches.
The product suspension only affects flat bird tables, not upright feeders, because it is thought that flat tables could be spreading the disease.
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In the meantime, are being urged to use upright hanging feeders instead of flat tables.
The RSPB said: “At the RSPB, the safety and welfare of birds has and always will be our priority.
“We know so many of you love feeding your garden birds and some bird species really do benefit from us putting out extra food for them, especially in winter. However, there is increasing evidence that for other birds there can also be negative effects such as the spread of disease, especially among finches.
“We want to make bird feeding as safe as possible, so we’re reviewing the advice we give you and products we sell based on the latest science.
“As a precautionary measure, whilst we await the findings of the review, we have suspended all our bird tables and related products, table mix and table mix extra, window feeders and feeder guardians with trays, from sale. This is because there is evidence to suggest that some birds, particularly finches, can be more exposed to disease when fed on flat surfaces like these.
Upright hanging bird feeders are still safe to use (Image: Getty)
“As the country’s largest nature conservation charity we want to be transparent with our supporters and customers. We believe suspending the products until we have a better understanding of how the disease spreads is our best option to ensure the safety of birds.”
The charity is still selling upright feeders and feeding stations and gardeners are being urged to use them instead.
Garden website adds: “With the recent news that the RSPB have suspended sales of bird tables and other feeders with flat surfaces because of evidence showing an increased risk of disease transmission and especially in finches, many people have been looking at alternative ways to safely feed their garden birds.
“Viewers of the last episode of ’s Winterwatch will have heard both Iolo Williams and Chris Packham also express serious concerns about the danger of feeding birds from flat surfaces.
“Hanging seed feeders which are tubular in style have long been popular, but now they’re likely to be even more so, as experts, including the RSPB, are stating that they present a lower disease risk to garden birds.”