After many years, at least the RSPB is doing the right thing now and highlighting risks…..and withdrawing from sale some of the products that help disease spread.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/08/rspb-stops-selling-flat-bird-feeders-deadly-finch-trichomonosis-disease?
https://www.finchesfriend.com/warbling
Bird feeder Hygiene has always been important, but now do we carry on using tables and baths??
I stopped feeding several years ago. We have a garden pond and there is a stream fairly nearby. I wouldn’t be using bird tables ever again…..baths are probably worth having during droughts, if no ponds or streams locally.
Cleaning of those mentioned on a regular basis and regularly and not just once a week but more.
Regards,
Ian.
Hygiene when feeding garden birds - Vine House Farm.pdf
Cleaning only gets so far. First of all, it relies on people doing it, and doing it thoroughly. It provides a 'get out', so people who want to carry on feeding will do so, regardless of how regular or thorough any cleaning is. Secondly, if cleaning has been done and an infected bird then provides a source of infection, cleaning a few days later only reduces the risk. Thirdly, cleaning of an area doesn't stop disease being passed on other areas where birds gather before and after using the feeders. Cleaning certainly reduces the risk......and then science would really need to work out the risk v benefit ratio of supplementary feeding. It has taken a very long time.....too long.....to get to recognising the common sense (and science subsequently). Even now, it's only a few 'products' that are being focused on.