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Bird feeding & bird flu

CanterburyBellsCanterburyBells Posts: 7
in Wildlife gardening
Hello everyone,

First-time poster here, so I'm really sorry if I've accidentally put this in the wrong area or anything!

I'm quite new to both gardening and bird-feeding, so hoping for some more experienced thoughts. I wondered if any of you have any advice on bird feeding, with regards to the current bird flu outbreak? I have only had a garden since this spring (so happy finally to have one!), and started feeding the birds on my patio. Now it's cold, I get quite a range of your usual suburban garden birds coming to eat the mixture of seed and suet pellets which I put out. They didn't really take to my feeders for some reason, and I don't have a lot of time to clean out or wash the feeders, so I've ended up instead just sprinkling the food on my patio first thing every morning. I also put out a little bird bath full of water.

What can I do to try and stop bird flu transmission? I've been changing the water in the bird bath every day. And trying to rotate the areas where I sprinkle the seed each day. Am I being unkind in persisting in feeding them, given the circumstances - would it be better to stop so I don't put them at risk of all catching bird flu from sharing food? I'm worried about where else they would find food in this weather, especially as they're used to me feeding them by now.

Thanks very much for any advice :)

Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Don't worry so much. Bird flu apparently affects mainly larger birds like geese, ducks and chickens. Technically I suppose that smaller birds could land in where the bigger birds have caught it but the risk is probably small. You cannot stop the smaller birds from flying wherever they want to go in any event but I think the risk is low.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I don't think you need to worry. Wild birds aren't generally affected.  :)
    It's largely poultry and ducks [the domesticated ones] which are susceptible. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • CanterburyBellsCanterburyBells Posts: 7
    Ah, that's a relief! I didn't know that it mostly only affects larger birds and domestic birds. I can carry on feeding my little garden birds without worries now :) Thanks very much for your help @Lizzie27 and @Fairygirl :)
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    This is the recent statement from RSPB with advice to keep your feeders clean:
    https://community.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/b/birdflu/posts/bird-flu-update-november-2021
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
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