Taking Down The (seed) Feeders.

[Dale.]

I read just over a week ago, that the RSPB are advising people to remove seed feeders from thier gardens, as we are now in the months that tricominosis is now coming to it's most dangerous phase, through the summer months. It affects mostly finches, hence one of it's pseudonyms, 'fat finch disease' but can affect other birds too. It is mostly fatal to infected birds.

I generally have feeders out all year round, mainly seeds, (sunflower hearts, nyger) and peanuts too. I also use suet and fatballs, now and again.

I was in the hide today, watching for signs of 'tricho' and sure enough, a female Siskin I saw is very puffed up, a sure sign.

The decision has been made for me, the seed feeders are now down and soaking in disenfectant but for the first time, I will be withdrawing them altogether over the summer months. It's a shame, as up to now, I've always had a healthy population of finches, even Greenfinches and Redpolls. I carried on feeding year round, thinking it was a good thing.

The advice seems to say ( I stand to be corrected ) that it is seed feeders that are the main concern, especially ones that have a flat, tray type fitting. Also, the ground beneath, where dropped seeds accumulate can also harbour the disease. Finches are the main seed eaters and by withdrawing seed as a feed, it can reduce the risk and spread.

Suet, fatballs and mealworms can still be used during this time but conservatively.

One of the things that concerns me though is that for this to really work, all seed feeders will have to be withdrawn. I have neighbours who feed seed, some might listen to the advice, others probably wouldn't.

Anyway, for now, my seed feeders are down, according to the advice, I'm doing the right thing, so we'll see. Time will tell if the advice rings true.

 

[Jannyfox]

I haven't fed birds for a long time, actually because various neighbours cut down trees and shrubs and the former safe flight lines into my garden weren't there any more, so the birds stopped coming before the major decline in numbers. My neighbour feeds a seed/flake/suet pellet mix in a tray on her path to the few sparrows we have left, wood pigeons and collared doves and rather a lot of corvids. I hope she heeds advice and stops but for a professed animal lover she has remarkably little sense. I'll be happy to be wrong about her this time though.
We used to have a lot of chaffinches in the village, now there are none. The greenfinches, however seem to be making a comeback this year, so far at least. They do all seem to be in the field hedges and trees, which is probably a much better place for them.

 

[Nikon f1.8]

is this area specific ??? I have just filled my three feeders up

 

[nog]

We are taking ours down as well, will miss the goldfinch coming for their seed though.

Have not checked but are bird baths ok?

 

[Dale.]

is this area specific ??? I have just filled my three feeders up

I would imagine it is nationwide, sadly.

It's advice though, but I'm erring on the side of caution.

We are taking ours down as well, will miss the goldfinch coming for their seed though.

Have not checked but are bird baths ok?

Changing water daily should cover bird baths.

I'll put this here, covers more than I can, it's what I first read.

 

[Vintage Racer]

Everyone seems to be missing the point... It is 'dirty' feeders that cause the problem. The solution is to keep feeders and water containers clean!

More birds die of starvation, than disease and with the general decline in insect numbers, our birds need all the help we can give them!

The only reason the RSPB made the warning, was because people leave dirty feeders up, which can cause the problem. I watched the TV interview with the RSPB and at no point did they say, "do not feed the birds". However, it was widely mis-reported in the press and on TV.

 

[nog]

Everyone seems to be missing the point... It is 'dirty' feeders that cause the problem. The solution is to keep feeders and water containers clean!

More birds die of starvation, than disease and with the general decline in insect numbers, our birds need all the help we can give them!

The only reason the RSPB made the warning, was because people leave dirty feeders up, which can cause the problem. I watched the TV interview with the RSPB and at no point did they say, "do not feed the birds". However, it was widely mis-reported in the press and on TV.

Report I saw on telly pointed out if a clean seed feeder is put up in the morning and an infected bird lands on it then any birds feeding after that will pick up the infection.
IIRC the report did say will pick up, rather than could, as the disease is highly infectious

 

[lindsay]

We stopped putting out suet balls as they attracted rats from the fields, which peanuts also do but we can place them where rats can't get to (even the clever ones). We have been feeding seeds but will probably stop now. The birdbaths are frequently pressure washed before filling. All the more reason to bring natural food sources into the garden with plants that they can feed off, I guess, and which attract insects.