Feeding garden birds: Guardian piece

[ConstanzeMozart]

Guardian piece on what to feed and what not to feed garden birds. It's not very clear; is it OK to scatter seeds and nuts on the ground? (among other birds I have jays in my garden and they love monkey nuts, and will hoover up seeds from the ground/shed roof too).
www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/10/rspb-bird-feeders-nuts-seeds-summer-parasitic-avian-disease

Same, I chucked some seeds out yesterday and within two minutes it looked like a bird sanctuary out there!

The rat doesn't disappear if you stop scattering seed 9n the ground.

Have the aRsePB acknowledged the role they've played in creating this problem in the first place?

No, it's brand new guidance. Do not feed birds in any way at all from May until autumn.

Feeding encourages birds to gather in the same place and that's how disease is spread.

It went want to keep our birds - finches especially - we stop feeding for this year. It's as simple as that.

Then why haven't they shut down their webshop altogether?

And that's the problem - lots of birds interacting too much.

This is an epidemic for birds, basically.

From May onwards there's enough food naturally available to support the bird population so that's a good time to stop feeders. The risk Vs benefit is too high for feeders to be wise.

Over winter, the balance will probably tip the other way - more birds fed that might otherwise have gone hungry Vs the risk of infection.

No, that is not the advice AT ALL.

www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/how-to-help-garden-birds

Do not use flat surfaces at all - the RSPB issued advice against bird tables and stopped selling them a while ago. This applies to any flat surfaces, roofs etc

Do not feed seeds or nuts in feeders from May. This is because the birds at most risk eat these foods.

Small amounts of suet - that will be eaten in one or two days- is ok. Its fine to do this in feeders but clean the feeders with disinfectant every few days. The birds are risk largely don't eat suet.

Move feeders around and clean food and droppings underneath them.

Change water and clean out containers and bird baths daily.

Most of this is strengthened existing advice apart from the no seeds in feeders from May.

Fat balls not recommended in spring as the baby birds get their feathers coated in fat when preening, which causes problems. Fat balls useful in winter, but not needed in warmer months.

Or at least that was the advice I read recently, but it seems RSPB are saying it's ok! Agh!!

We are sticking to feeding in winter, planting bird friendly plants and having cleaned water containers daily.

Would love to see green finches, and bull finches back again

Yes, I've been confused by the fat ball advice. I think its probably about balancing risk.

The RSPB says you can offer small amounts of fatball food from May to October.