Want to help garden birds? Don’t feed them in warmer months, says RSPB
Want to help garden birds? Don’t feed them in warmer months, says RSPB
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is urging gardeners to pause their feeding habits for certain birds during the warmer months, warning that this practice could inadvertently harm species like greenfinches and chaffinches. While feeding birds in gardens is commonly seen as a kind act, the charity highlights that it may contribute to disease outbreaks during this period.
Trichomonosis and Its Impact
Trichomonosis, a parasitic illness affecting birds’ mouths, throats, and upper digestive tracts, has led to sharp declines in populations. Greenfinches, once a frequent sight in UK gardens, have dropped by two million since the 1970s. Now listed as endangered, they face challenges in feeding and breathing due to the parasite. Infected birds spread the disease through saliva and droppings, contaminating food sources, and can transmit it to chicks via regurgitation.
According to the RSPB’s latest Big Garden Birdwatch data, greenfinches’ ranking has fallen from seventh in 1979 to eighteenth in 2025. Over 16 million households regularly provide bird food, with one feeder for every nine birds using them. The charity emphasizes that feeding during May to October could concentrate birds at feeders, creating disease hotspots.
“I want to support the birds – I don’t want to do anything that’s going to spread disease,” says Helen Rowe, a London resident who feeds sparrows near her home. She notes the birds’ cheerful presence but plans to stop using feeders during warmer months.
The RSPB recommends a seasonal and hygienic approach: “Feed seasonally, feed safely.” This includes cleaning feeders weekly, relocating them after each cleaning to reduce contamination, and using fresh water daily. Flat feeders, which were previously popular, are now discouraged as they allow parasite accumulation. The charity stopped selling them last year, signaling a shift away from traditional bird tables.
Challenges in Changing Habits
Despite the advice, some argue the guidelines may not apply uniformly. Dick Woods, a manufacturer of easy-to-clean feeders, points out that natural food availability varies greatly across regions. “In some places, food is so abundant that birds don’t rely on feeders; in others, there’s little alternative,” he states.
The RSPB acknowledges regional differences but believes a unified message is more effective. Martin Fowlie of the charity explains, “We’ve aimed for simplicity to encourage wider adoption, even if changes take years to fully take root.” The pet food industry, however, has criticized the shift, calling it “a significant change to long-established advice” and warning it could confuse millions of regular feeders.
Annual bird food spending in the UK is estimated at £380 million, equivalent to 150,000 tonnes. This amount could sustain three times the breeding populations of the most common garden birds if used year-round. The RSPB’s goal is to reduce disease spread by promoting smaller, safer feedings with mealworms, fat balls, or suet – enough for a couple of days at most.
