Food & Drink
The birds and the beans
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21 March 2024
This year’s Big Garden Birdwatch results are in: the house sparrow has held on to the top spot and blue tit remains at number two.
Starling has crept up one place to number three, and woodpigeon and blackbird make up the other top five most-recorded species in UK gardens.
Over 650,000 people took part in the world’s largest garden wildlife survey, counting more than nine million birds of over 80 species during this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch. The survey provides a valuable annual snapshot of how our most common garden birds are faring.
The real story lies further down the garden rankings. In the 18th spot is greenfinch, which has seen a 67% decline in average numbers recorded since Big Garden Birdwatch began in 1979.
Other UK-wide surveys show that greenfinches have dropped by over 65% since the latest UK-wide surveys began in the mid‑1990s, equating to the loss of over two million birds.
The cause of these losses is disease, especially a disease called trichomonosis, which spreads more easily when birds gather around feeders – particularly in summer and autumn. Disease-related declines mean greenfinches are now on the UK Red List.
‘Feeding birds is something millions of us love and value, but the science shows us that birds such as greenfinches have been affected by the spread of disease at feeders.’
BECCY SPEIGHT
RSPB’s chief executive
With the help of other experts, RSPB scientists have taken a fresh look at what happens when we feed garden birds. It turns out the picture is quite mixed: there are clear benefits but also some risks, and plenty we still don’t fully understand.
Despite the risks, feeding garden birds remains hugely beneficial when done safely and at appropriate times of year. The RSPB is asking the public to adopt simple seasonal changes that will help protect bird health in the long term.
The message is simple: feed seasonally; feed safely.
It’s important to adjust what we feed our garden birds during the summer and autumn months when there’s a higher risk of disease spreading.
From 1 May to 31 October, pause filling your bird feeders with seed and peanuts to prevent too many birds gathering in one place.OK to keep offering small amounts of mealworms, fat balls or suet all year.
Just one infected bird can turn your busy feeder into a disease hotspot. To help keep birds healthy, we need to prioritise hygiene.
Clean and move your feeders weekly. Get into the habit of giving your feeders a good clean at least once a week. If possible, place your feeders in a different spot after each clean to prevent the build-up of contaminated debris underneath. Any existing debris should be cleared up.
Only offer water if you’re able to change it every day and make sure it’s tap water. Water baths should also be cleaned weekly.
Research has confirmed that there’s a higher risk of the disease spreading on flat surfaces, where contaminated food can collect for other birds to eat. This means bidding a fond farewell to feeders that have any flat surfaces – including bird tables.
‘We’re not asking people to stop feeding, just to feed in a way that protects birds’ long-term health. By making small changes together, we can ensure garden feeding continues to be a positive force for nature.’
BECCY SPEIGHT
RSPB’s chief executive
As well as adjusting the way we all feed our garden birds, there are plenty of other things we can do to support them to find their own food.
You could consider bird-friendly planting – such as sunflowers, teasels and ivy – which helps to provide natural, safer food sources and encourages insects.
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