The RSPB has issued advice saying we should feed garden birds with seeds or nuts between the end of April to the end of October. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/l ... ding-birds
I have very mixed feeling about this. The aim to try and cut out the losses from trichomonosis is laudable but my fear is that species not affected will suffer if they don't get the supplementary food they've become very used to. My Goldfinch and Greenfinch parents bring their fledglings to enjoy the feast and the lowly House Sparrow has plenty to contend with without cutting off their food supply for half the year.
I have a couple of weeks to decide if I want to break the habit of feeding for over 30 years.
I saw that in the news the other day JS. I dont believe their yearly one hour garden watch gives a true representation of any garden bird count . I have fed all year round and will continue to do so and if any sick bird should appear I shall take appropriate action and remove feeders for a few weeks like I have done in the past.
I have the same feelings, Jack, and agree with Linda, but also I thought the advice was NOT to feed nuts during spring for fear of the nestlings/fledglings choking on small bits of nut?
SnappyMac wrote: Sat Apr 11, 2026 7:43 am
As you say very difficult to know what to do for the best. If I don't put feed out most of the birds will go from the garden.
P.S. What about the effect on suppliers, if Linda stops feeding.....
Birdfoodscotland.com will obvs go into administration, as will chiknbits r us
Just bear with me for a sec. Like others have seen the advice on the news and elsewhere, so went to copilot, the AI thingy. The first question asked was tell me about the RSPB advice on summer feeding. It trotted out what we were told on the news, so that was good.
Then I asked a specific question, Which was this, " did tricho rise with the introduction of bulk feeders", the short answer was YES. And gave very good reasons why, the main being like the port feeders, too many birds concentrated in a very small space. Would not happen in the wild like that. Myself, don't have those type of feeders, and spread my feeding all over the garden in several places, so spreads the traffic. This is a food for thought piece to draw attention to it. And maybe help to decide on their next step. Just give it some careful thought.
Firstly, William, I'm not going to get bare with you, I hardly know you and you haven't even bought me a drink
Secondly you raise a good point about spreading feeders about, but if the same birds visit all the feeding stations, would the risk be extended to occasional visitors as well as the regulars? (Just asking a question, nothing more). Personally I have one sunflower heart feeder out, and occasionally scatter grapes/sultanas if I see blackbird, and also spread little suet pellets along the raised beds brickwork maybe twice a week for collared doves/ robin (although he's learned to feed from the feeder) and sparrows. We have so few birds I don't think we'll change
Thank you PB, probably lots of people will not change, with my regime I have, will keep it as it is. Don't use much seed here and only put out enough so that it is gone in a few hours, and if I do a top up around lunchtime just half the amount. No doubt the information given by the RSPB is going to stir a lot of emotions.
They have said that you could continue to feed mealworms and suet balls through the summer months - I think the importance of habitat in suburban gardens needs to be addressed - decking and artificial grass is not good. It's probably easier to discourage summer feeding rather than go into a long technical explanation of feeder hygiene, moving feeders, raking feed areas etc
I acknowledge that hanging feeders may be the causes of some of the trouble but I have limited options. The bane of my life are feral pigeons and any type of food that is accessible to them is hoovered up in minutes. I'm still giving it thought at present
