I will try to keep this as short as I can, however, there is a lot to discuss, and I ask you to please read all of this to inform you of the facts before you take any action (Sorry if it's a difficult read, I haven't wrote so much since school).
I am sure many of you have heard on the news and social media lately about the RSPB’s advice regarding summer feeding of our garden birds. Firstly, there are a lot of fake headlines and false stories currently circling to increase clicks and views on their articles. Headlines such as “Stop feeding the birds in summer” by the BBC and “take down your feeders” by the Daily Mail are simply false and not what the RSPB have released. Listening to headlines like this will cause our garden bird numbers to plummet and is a serious risk to many of our species that regularly visit our feeders.
Next, let me address the true guidelines offered by the RSPB. In shortened terms the RSPB have suggested we halt feeding seeds and peanuts from May until October to combat the issue of a disease called Trichomonosis which in the past has infected Pigeons and Doves, but in recent years has adapted to infect Greenfinches and Chaffinches. The RSPB have alternatively suggested feeding only fat/suet foods as well as mealworms during this period. Trichomonsis is an issue. We all care for our wildlife and want it to thrive, we do not want to be the cause of spreading diseases.
However, the RSPB’s guidelines are reckless and extremely drastic. This suggestion has the potential to decimate this season’s breeding period as well as put almost all bird food companies and jobs under extreme risk. Firstly, I will explain the effects this will have on our garden birds during this period, then go on to a business aspect of this proposal, followed by what I and many experts in this field are advising we all do so all birds win.
May and June are the busiest months for feeding birds, not winter. Adult birds are under immense pressure to feed themselves as well as nest building followed by the mammoth task of rearing young. To aid this we all feed birds so that the adult birds can get a quick energy boost from our food which gives them more time to search for insects for their chicks back in the nest. It’s common knowledge that insect numbers are dramatically down during Spring from what they were 30/40 years ago. Therefore, there simply isn’t enough insects to go around everyone and if we stop feeding, then those adult birds will need to use those insects to feed themselves as well as their chicks, which will result in the starvation of many young chicks.
RSPB have stated feeding fat products and mealworms to aid birds through the summer months. However, the RSPB in previous years have told us all to reduce feeding fat products during the breeding period as this can lead to inexperienced adult birds to feed predominately fat to chicks back in the nest. This food source lacks the correct nutrition and fluid that insects process which they should be fed on. This leads to the chicks bulking up on the wrong food and perishing in the nests. Therefore, with less insects around due to the lack of feeding seeds and peanuts for the adults, birds will feel pressured to feed their chicks readily available fat which will cause many deaths.
These two facts alone will see a drastic decline in numbers of our garden birds this spring and will cause the worst succuss rate in fledglings we’ve ever seen. The RSPB have also suggested planting ‘bird friendly’ plants such as Sunflowers and Teasels which is a great thing, however, we all know how many seeds we get through during the spring and summer and know a few plants will not substitute the volume of seeds these birds will eat. Not to mention these plants need time to grow and won’t be ready for the busy breeding period.
From a business perspective, the RSPB are suggesting bird food companies go without selling any seeds or peanuts for 5 months! Seeds and peanuts make up roughly 75% of Gala Wildlife’s sales. I can assure everyone reading this, if everyone stops feeding during this time or only feeds fat and mealworms then Gala Wildlife and almost all other bird feed companies will not be around to supply you with bird food come October. Especially when it will cost us our two best months.
The increased demand on Mealworms and fat products will see those stocks now suddenly vanish, prices will quickly surge and manufacturers of these will not be able to cope with the sudden increase since the RSPB have only given us 2 weeks for before suggesting people follow these guidelines.
Since the announcement on Friday, I have already experienced a vast drop in online orders as well as a lot of confused and incorrect comments at the market on Saturday. After growing this business from nothing, going through multiply economic disasters and surviving a global pandemic that cost us 60% of our sales during the spring and summer of 2020, I plead with you all that this doesn’t become the death of Gala Wildlife.
Unfortunately, I have now lost faith in the RSPB knowing what is best for our nations wildlife and feel they have lost touch with modern reality. They are highlighting a crucial issue and I commend them on bringing it to everyone’s attention. However, this is not the way it should be dealt with and will cost not only businesses but more importantly dramatically harm those they are looking to aid, our garden wildlife.
So what is being advised we do so that we combat the threat of Trichomonosis, but also continue to help our birds have enough food during the spring and summer. This is from experts in the sector as well as common practises we should already be implementing. I’ll display it in bullet points to make it clear.
1. Do not stop feeding entirely – Many of our garden birds have now become accustomed to you regularly putting feed out for them. To suddenly stop would leave them confused and highly stressed due to it now being a vital time where they need a regular food supply. There simply isn’t the natural food out there in the volume they require.
2. Clean your feeders regularly – This is how we will combat Trichomonosis!! Leaving feeders out without cleaning regularly is how this disease is spread from bird to bird. I personally recommend cleaning them every week, I understand we are all busy but please don’t leave them longer than two weeks without cleaning as this is when food starts to go off and it becomes a haven for bacteria and disease. By doing this there is no reason why we all can’t continue to feed seeds and peanuts, this alone will cause us all to do so much good for our garden birds. We have on offer bird feeders which are easy clean and make cleaning them super quick, I will do a follow up email regarding this matter and these feeders.
3. Keep feed fresh – This relates to the previous point. If the seed or peanuts in your feeders hasn’t gone within two weeks, then you’re filling your feeders too much. Only use a single feeder for each food source or small feeders if this is the case. Plus, there’s no need to fill them to the top. Just fill them half full at first to see if the feed is going within a couple of weeks, if it does then fill them up more, if not fill it a quarter full. The quicker feed goes, the less likely it is to go off.
4. Feed high quality food – Also relating to the previous point. Providing quality bird foods will not only encourage more birds to your garden but importantly result in feed being consumed quicker. Low grade bird food will be a last resort option for birds and is therefore left for a long time uneaten. This is when the food can start to harvest more and more nasty bacteria, infecting any bird which reluctantly feeds from it. Feeding high quality foods makes your feeders a priority place to feed resulting in less time for feed to go off.
5. Avoid feeding on bird tables or other surfaces which are hard to clean – If you are willing to clean these surfaces every week then this isn’t so much an issue. However, these surfaces are seen to harvest the most bacteria and disease due to them being accessible to all bird species, birds trampling through food with dirty feet, birds defecating within the feed and them attracting many birds within the same place at one time. This certainly isn’t they most hygienic way of feeding birds.
6. Keep a watchful eye for diseased birds – Birds that are unwell are rather easy to spot. They are often extremely lethargic, feathers puffed up and they cuddle within themselves to make a fluff ball. If you approach a diseased bird, it will often be very reluctant to fly away, allowing you to get usually close to them. You will see they don’t look well, commonly will have their eyes closed or staring into space, not much movement and can have their beak slightly open as if struggling to breathe. If you spot this then remove your food. Go a few weeks without feeding to allow the diseased birds to move on (most likely perishing unfortunately) to stop it spreading. Then return to feeding once no more diseased birds are seen followed by more than usual cleaning just in case whilst keeping an extra look out for any other birds looking unwell.
By following these steps we can all enjoy feeding our bird their favourite seeds and peanuts throughout the spring and summer, helping them to have their most successful year in recent years whilst also continuing to support a local business who’s goal has always been to support our garden wildlife.
It is very much worth noting that this is not a new threat. Trichomonosis has been around for many years, even when we first started the business. Greenfinches saw a huge decline roughly 10 years ago due to the disease, however, recent counts show that they are starting to recover in numbers, perhaps building a natural immunity to the disease, hence why maybe the disease has changed to start infecting Chaffinches now. It’s been great to hear so many people recently tell me they are encouraging Greenfinches back in to their garden after a long disappearance.
If you’d like to read more about this issue then one of our suppliers, Ark Wildlife, have written a great blog on the subject which is balanced and very informative. Here is the link - https://www.arkwildlife.co.uk/blogs/sean-mcmenemy/should-i-feed-birds-in-summer
So please, continue feeding your garden birds just like you were before but implementing these crucial steps.
If you have any further questions, then please email me at enquiries@galawildlife.co.uk
Thank you so much for reading
Jason