New bird-feeding guidelines set amid disease outbreak
Trichomonosis makes it difficult for birds to eat, drink and breathe.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has urged bird-lovers to reduce the feed they offer garden birds during the summer months.
In its new guidance, the organisation warns that supplementary feeding could promote the spread of diseases in the garden, including the parasite trichomonosis.
Trichomonosis spreads most easily in places where birds gather in large numbers, such as feeders. Infected birds may then spread the parasite through regurgitated food and saliva, indirectly contaminating such food and water sources.
The disease may also be spread when they feed other birds.
When contracted, trichomonosis can affect the mouth, throat and upper digestive tract. This makes it difficult for infected birds to eat, drink and breathe.
As part of its new guidance for feeding garden birds, the RSPB is calling on bird-lovers to ‘Feed seasonally. Feed safely’.
From 1 May to 31 October, the RSPB is advising people to feed birds only a small amount of mealworms, fat balls and suet. During the colder months, from 1 November to 30 April, they can resume feeding birds a full range of food, including seeds and peanuts.
Food should be kept as dry as possible, and should be eaten within two days.
Bird feeders and water baths must be cleaned at least once a week, to remove old food and droppings. RSPB also stresses that bird baths should only be offered if they are refilled daily with fresh tap water.
The charity says that feeders must be moved regularly to prevent the build-up of contaminated debris underneath. Multiple feeders should be spaced apart to prevent large gatherings of birds, and also prevent mixing between species.
However, the RSPB advises against placing feeders underneath spaces where birds roost, such as trees.
The charity also warns against flat-surface feeders, such as bird tables and window feeders.
Since birds affected by trichomonosis often struggle to swallow food, they may regurgitate contaminated food onto the flat surface for healthy birds to pick up. Even daily feeder cleaning will not prevent healthy birds ingesting infected food.
A Scottish SPCA spokesperson said: “Our Animal Rescue Officers and wildlife rescue centre regularly see high numbers of bird with trichomonas in the summer months with various degrees of severity.
“The guidance, designed to reduce bird density at feeding stations and improve hygiene practices, is an important factor in reducing the spread of the disease in birds.”
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