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The UK’s largest bird conservation charity has issued a warning about the potential risks of feeding garden birds during the warmer months. While many people enjoy placing food out to attract wild birds, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) recommends pausing this activity between May 1 and October 31. The advice aims to reduce the spread of a disease known as trichomonosis, which thrives at busy feeders during these months and has led to alarming declines in certain bird species.
Trichomonosis, caused by a parasite affecting birds’ mouths, throats, and upper digestive tracts, can seriously impair their ability to eat, drink, or breathe. Birds infected with this parasite shed it in their saliva and droppings, which then contaminate feeding sites. The disease has severely impacted populations such as greenfinches and chaffinches. Once common in UK gardens, greenfinch numbers have fallen by two million, placing them on the red list of endangered birds. According to the RSPB’s latest Big Garden Birdwatch data, greenfinches have dropped in rank from seventh in 1979 to eighteenth in 2025.
Feeding wild birds remains a popular hobby, with over 16 million households in the UK believed to provide food regularly. Estimates suggest there is about one feeder for every nine garden birds. The RSPB’s campaign, summarised as “feed seasonally, feed safely,” focuses on minimizing disease transmission through improved hygiene. The charity advises cleaning feeders thoroughly at least once a week, relocating feeders after cleaning to prevent contaminated debris buildup, and only providing fresh tap water, which should be changed daily. Mealworms, fat balls, and suet can still be offered in small quantities year-round but only enough for a day or two.
In recent years, the RSPB has stopped selling flat bird feeders, which research suggests are more likely to become disease hotspots, and now discourages their use, effectively signaling an end to traditional bird tables. The guidance has sparked mixed reactions. Some bird enthusiasts express concern over missing close encounters with birds, while others question whether the recommendations should vary regionally depending on natural food availability. Despite these challenges, the RSPB argues that a clear, consistent message is necessary to be effective. The charity worked alongside scientific partners to develop its new advice, acknowledging that shifting public habits will be a slow process but insisting that continuing current feeding practices during peak disease months is no longer safe
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