Wild Bird Feeding in Summer | Animal Welfare Hub

Summer bird feeding raises specific welfare questions about the suitability of food types, disease risk, and the effect on natural foraging behaviour during the breeding season.

Key Facts

Traditional advice was to avoid bird feeding in summer, but RSPB evidence supports year-round feeding
Nestling birds require soft invertebrate food - hard seeds or peanuts fed to adults can harm chicks if fed to nestlings
Mealworms are high-value summer bird food supporting parents raising multiple broods
Disease risk at feeders is heightened in warm, wet summer conditions requiring more frequent hygiene
Summer feeding is particularly beneficial in years of low natural invertebrate availability due to drought or pesticide effects
Swifts, swallows, and martins cannot use garden feeders as they only eat aerial insects on the wing

Welfare Considerations

Summer bird feeding, done responsibly, provides a valuable supplement to natural food sources during the energetically demanding breeding season. The key welfare considerations are food type appropriateness (avoiding foods that adults might carry to nestlings and choke them), feeder hygiene to prevent disease, and fresh water provision. Well-managed summer feeding stations support breeding success and individual bird welfare.

What You Can Do

Provide fresh water daily for drinking and bathing during summer months
Offer mealworms and soaked raisins as summer bird food rather than hard seeds for nestling period
Clean feeders more frequently in summer - at least weekly in warm weather
Position feeders and water away from predator cover, particularly important during fledgling vulnerability
Support wildlife organisations researching the effects of bird feeding on wild bird welfare and behaviour