Feeding our garden birds can provide vital energy resources for our feathered friends, but we are also responsible for making sure it doesn’t have unexpected harm. The BBC report on research by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) on the risks of disease in wild birds from garden bird feeders.
ZSL and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) recommend:
- Do keep feeding your birds, especially in winter, but just be aware of the risks and how you can minimise them
- Clean bird feeders regularly
- Rotate feeding sites to avoid build up of droppings and/or regurgitated food
- If you notice a sick bird (e.g. unusually fluffed-up plumage and lethargic):
- report it to the Garden Wildife Health Project
- seek advice from a vet
- withdraw food for a while to let birds disperse over a wider area
Learn more about what you can do to help Normandy’s wildlife.