"Garden bird feeders help spread disease among wild birds" (1 Viewer)

Jonno52

John (a bad birdwatcher)

Supporter

• Mar 12, 2018

• #1

The Guardian has this today. The take away point is that scrupulous care should be taken to keep feeders clean. I'm unable to feed the birds now unfortunately, but those who do may want to take note of the advice in the article.

 

Jonno52

John (a bad birdwatcher)

Supporter

• Mar 12, 2018

• #2

Jonno52 said:

The Guardian has this today. The take away point is that scrupulous care should be taken to keep feeders clean. I'm unable to feed the birds now unfortunately, but those who do may want to take note of the advice in the article.

Click to expand...

Link not working! Another attempt:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/12/garden-bird-feeders-help-spread-disease-among-wild-birds

 

Mary

Well-known member

• Mar 12, 2018

• #3

And a link to the full report http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/373/1745/20170091

 

A

alcedo.atthis

Well-known member

• Mar 12, 2018

• #4

This is not new news.

https://sbpoley.home.xs4all.nl/ukrb/deaths.html

 

Richard Prior

Halfway up an Alp

• Mar 12, 2018

• #5

alcedo.atthis said:

This is not new news.

https://sbpoley.home.xs4all.nl/ukrb/deaths.html

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True, but no harm whatsoever in highlighting this matter (each winter would be a good idea!).

 

Ruff

Two birds in one.

• Apr 17, 2018

• #6

It makes a sort of sense in human terms but at least in flocks of social birds, common in Canada in the winter, I'm not sure feeders are a real menace. No harm in external cleaning of course, but as per the RSPB article I'm confident the real hazard is from rotting spoiled seed etc accumulating inside some feeders, esp the ones that don't keep the contents dry inside.