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 UK’s largest bird conservation organization warns that feeding garden birds during warmer months might harm their populations. While placing bird feeders in gardens might appear benevolent, it could inadvertently endanger certain species. The RSPB recommends pausing feeding activities from 1 May to 31 October to curb disease spread.
Trichomonosis, a parasitic infection, has significantly impacted birds like greenfinches and chaffinches. This disease affects the mouth, throat, and upper digestive system, impairing birds’ ability to eat, drink, or breathe. Infected birds release the parasite through saliva and droppings, contaminating food sources. Transmission can also occur directly to chicks via regurgitated food.
According to the RSPB’s latest Big Garden Birdwatch findings, greenfinches dropped from the seventh most common species in 1979 to the eighteenth in 2025. An estimated 16 million UK households regularly provide bird food, with roughly one feeder per nine birds. The charity claims this practice could create disease hotspots if continued during warmer months.
The RSPB emphasizes “feed seasonally, feed safely” as its new guidance. It suggests offering small quantities of mealworms, fat balls, or suet throughout the year, but limiting their use during peak risk periods. Regular cleaning of feeders and water sources is critical, with feeders needing weekly sanitization and water replaced daily. Bird baths should also be maintained with weekly cleaning routines.
“It’s really nice to see them from the window – they look very chipper out there,” says Helen Rowe of the Isle of Dogs in London. She notes that a flock of sparrows often gathers around her feeders, but plans to suspend feeding during warmer months to avoid disease spread.
Some argue the advice should account for regional differences in natural food availability. Dick Woods, who produces easy-to-clean feeders, highlights that gardens vary in how much wild food is accessible. “In some places, food is so abundant that birds don’t use feeders very much; in other areas there is little alternative,” he explains.
Despite these concerns, the RSPB maintains that a unified message is more effective. “We are well aware that things won’t change overnight and that behaviour change will take years, if not decades,” says Martin Fowlie. “We have therefore sought to keep our advice as simple as possible to make it easier for people to follow.”
The pet food industry has criticized the shift, calling it a “significant change to long-established advice.” They warn the new guidance might confuse millions of regular feeders. However, the RSPB insists its approach prioritizes disease prevention while allowing limited feeding during cooler seasons.
