The greenfinch population has already plummeted by 69% between due to parasitic disease (Image: Robert J Evans via Getty Images)
If you want to attract more birds to your garden but aren’t sure where to start, these tips may bring new species to your borders this summer — and keep them safe.
A lot of the skill lies in selecting the right bird feeder to safeguard wildlife from a lethal disease known as trichomoniasis. This comes after the RSPB halted sales of bird tables and other , which can become hotspots for parasites, fungal infections, and deadly diseases.
These conditions have contributed to a populations. The greenfinch population has already plummeted by 69% between 2008 and 2018 due to parasitic disease.
As the nesting season is in full swing, Lucy Taylor, at , has identified the best bird feeders to prevent disease transmission among your garden birds.
She emphasised: “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. Ideally, you should be using hanging seed feeders to limit the spread of diseases like Trichomoniasis.”
Refrain from purchasing cheap seed feeders (Image: Ingunn B. Haslekaas via Getty Images)
She also advised purchasing a bird seeder that can be disassembled: “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.”
Steer clear of feeders with built-in catch trays: “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 trichomoniasis 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.”
Opt for feeders with round perches: “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.”
Squirrels can steal bird feed from your feathered friends (Image: Getty)
Refrain from purchasing cheap seed feeders: “The plastic tube on cheap feeders will often discolour quickly and crack, plus low quality plastic fittings are unlikely to last long – and especially if you have grey squirrels visiting your garden.”
Invest in squirrel-proof feeders: “Grey squirrels can dominate bird feeders to the point of discouraging small birds from feeding. 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 grey squirrels, then go for one of these options.”
When it comes to bird feeders, size does matter for your wallet’s sake: “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.”