It’s in the latest issue of The RSPB Magazine, p.36. They advise against using “flat feeding stations”, tables, tray type feeders etc. as they present the highest risk of disease as they can retain regurgitated food and faeces. The RSPB has suspended sales of these items.
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It’s specifically related to tables and other flat surfaces and not feeders more generally.
See here from the RSPB Shop:
“As a precautionary measure, whilst we await the findings of the review, we have suspended all our bird tables and related products, Table mix and Table mix extra, window feeders and feeder guardians with trays, from sale. This is because there is evidence to suggest that some birds, particularly finches, can be more exposed to disease when fed on flat surfaces like these.”
See also Page 36 of the latest RSPB magazine.
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ok - I see the RPSB standard feeders which you can purchase and are encouraged to are fine through the RSPB shop (there is even a sale on some of them) - I didn’t realise it was specific types of feeders such as types of tables that they were discouraging.
Thanks for the clarifications both
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Debs
Thanks for sharing the information. Unfortunately Brexit has scuppered my access to the UK mainland market place from N Ireland - your supplier for example charges a heck of a delivery charge. Many gardening suppliers simply no longer offer delivery here due to the regulations. Thank you Boris for your not so marvelous negotiations with Brussels!
Peter
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Thanks for the info Mike-B. I am clearly not well read on bird life (amongst others!). Of some consolation perhaps, I don’t have any bird tables and the only birds I have seen with health issues in the garden are occasional piles of dove feathers when some sort of hawk takes advantage of the birds feeding on bread crumbs I have spread on the grass! Bread on grass is probably another no-no!!
Peter
I do sympathise, and thought that deliver costs maybe an issue with where you are in Ireland, however you may find you have an outlet local that offers the same sort of wild bird foods and with a reasonably delivery cost?
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Hi Peter, no problems, its just good to see you have some interest in bird life. As you don’t have bird tables and all you see is the remains of a hawks meal, it seems your bird population is probably OK doing as nature intended.
Bread crumbs on the grass is pretty safe other than bread is not the best food for birds. I just recommend to spread the crumbs thinly and not always in the same space.
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If google maps serves me correctly, you are about 10 miles from a Home Bargains in Belfast.
If so, look for these, avoid the cheap blue
box fat balls.
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Thanks for the heads up. Read it just now. Had passed me by, but Sue says this has been known for at least six months.
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Ahhh Thanks for that catswhiskers! By coincidence my sister mentioned a shop - may have been the same - where she gets fat balls which the birds in her garden are very keen on. I have tried some others and ended up throwing them out - the birds seem quite fussy in these parts. My sister is going to give me some of hers to try out and hopefully they will go down a treat (the Pets at Home ones are great but I think rather expensive). Fingers crossed!
Peter
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I was woken up this morning by a Robin singing in a tree near the bedroom window at 5.30am.
I’ve now got a pair of Tawney Owls hooting loudly to each other at the front of the house.
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Nice. I believe the females make the kee-wik ( twit) sound and males make the twoo (hoot). I suspect if you have two hooting they are males having a discussion over territory. Lovely sound.
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I have some largish trees on the hill 100/200m from the house that stand in mixed overgrown scrubland. It has loads of owl food running around and is a regular hangout for Tawneys.
Breeding is in Jan and Feb so at this time most of the calls are ‘Hoo-hoo-ooo ‘ the classic male hooting sound and is them sorting out territory.
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I haven’t seen any owls around my home - not sure if they live in these parts?
Morning ritual a bit later than normal today - topped up the feeders and the ‘gang’ started making their presence felt. The magpies, jays, doves and very large crows will be along a little later to clean up the bread crumbs.
Peter
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Thanks to @Debs for the garden supply info, I’ve purchased some new feeders as the current ones are beyond hygenic redemption.
Tim
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Tawny Owl are scarce in NI, due to habitat. I think you have only 8% woodlands. I found only 1 record for Barn Owl in September. The ebird app or website will show you what’s about.
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Cheers for that Stokie.
Peter
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Great Expectations
..for my sincere thanks for flying from west to the east side of the trail, catching a late sun ray instead of remaining a silhouette against it.
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