Quick Read
- The RSPB recommends stopping garden bird feeding between May 1 and October 31 to prevent the spread of fatal diseases like trichomonosis.
- Greenfinch populations have suffered a significant decline, dropping from a ranking of seven in 1979 to 18 in 2025 due in part to disease transmission at feeders.
- The new guidance mandates the removal of flat-surfaced feeders and requires weekly cleaning of equipment and daily changing of water to ensure bird health.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has issued a major shift in its long-standing advice, urging the public to stop feeding garden birds during the warmer months. Effective for the period between 1 May and 31 October, the new guidance is intended to prevent the transformation of backyard bird feeders into transmission hotspots for lethal diseases, specifically the parasitic infection trichomonosis.
The threat of trichomonosis to bird populations
The RSPB’s decision follows a concerning decline in populations of familiar garden species, most notably greenfinches and chaffinches. Greenfinch numbers have plummeted, moving them to the red list of endangered birds; the RSPB’s latest Big Garden Birdwatch results indicate they have dropped from a ranking of seven in 1979 to 18 in 2025. Trichomonosis, which affects a bird’s throat and digestive tract, makes it difficult for them to eat, drink, or breathe. The parasite is shed through saliva and droppings, meaning that high-traffic feeding stations in warm weather serve as primary sites for rapid contagion.
New standards for safe, seasonal feeding
To address these risks, the charity is promoting a “feed seasonally, feed safely” mandate. While it acknowledges that millions of households enjoy bird feeding, the RSPB advises that the traditional “bird table” or flat-surfaced feeder should be removed entirely, as these surfaces allow for the accumulation of contaminated debris. For those who choose to continue feeding outside the warmer months, the organization now recommends rigorous hygiene: cleaning feeders at least once a week, moving them to new locations to prevent ground contamination, and changing water in bird baths daily.
Industry pushback and scientific evidence
The guidance has drawn criticism from the bird food industry, with UK Pet Food describing it as a significant disruption to established habits that could cause public confusion. Michael Bellingham, chief executive of UK Pet Food, noted that the evidence base is still evolving. However, the RSPB maintains that its position is based on a robust review conducted alongside the British Trust for Ornithology and the Institute of Zoology. The charity has committed to stopping the sale of bird feeders and food through its own channels during the summer months to align with its new policy.
The shift from a year-round feeding model to a seasonal, high-hygiene approach represents a necessary, albeit difficult, transition in wildlife conservation. By prioritizing the biological health of bird populations over the human desire for constant interaction, the RSPB is acknowledging that the unintended consequences of well-meaning human intervention have reached a critical threshold that can no longer be managed by traditional methods.