For millions of cold and hungry birds, feeders hanging in gardens are a lifeline during the hard days of winter. But some wildlife experts are warning that they can also be a deathtrap, reports David Derbyshire of the Daily Mail.
They say dirty feeders and infected bird baths are spreading a disease that has killed a fifth of Britain’s greenfinches in recent years. They are urging nature lovers to clean up their bird tables, and temporarily stop feeding birds if they are signs of infection in their garden.
Around 20 million people in Britain regularly leave out food for birds. They spend £250million a year on specialist seeds and the figure is rising.
Charities and conservation groups say garden feeders are an essential resource for birds, especially during the winter. But a conference in London next month will hear evidence that they have contributed to the spread of at least two diseases in last decade.
Tags: Bird baths, Greenfinch, Infected