Wildlife

Wild Bird Supplementary Feeding Safety

Wild bird feeding provides significant winter welfare benefits but requires appropriate hygiene and food selection to avoid causing harm to target and non-target species.

Key Facts

Dirty feeders spread avian trichomonosis which has caused major greenfinch declines
Fat balls with nets cause entanglement injuries to small birds and should be removed from nets
Certain foods including dried bread, salted foods and some fruit seeds are harmful to birds
Supplementary feeding benefits are greatest in winter when natural food is scarce
Feeders placed near windows cause collision mortality and should be positioned strategically

Welfare Considerations

Bird feeding welfare depends as much on hygiene and appropriate food as on provision itself. Dirty feeders and inappropriate foods cause direct welfare harm. Regular cleaning, appropriate food selection and strategic feeder placement maximise welfare benefit while minimising harm to target and non-target species.

What You Can Do

Clean bird feeders weekly with hot water and allow to dry completely before refilling
Remove fat balls from plastic nets before putting out and use loose fat products instead
Position feeders at least 1 metre from windows or use window feeders with collision markers