Beak practice: keeping our feathered friends well fed

Ahead of the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch, many will be setting up feeders in their garden to attract feathered visitors. But, asks Hannah Stephenson, how safe is yours?

- Hannah Stephenson

As the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch approaches, many nature enthusiasts are preparing to participate in the world’s largest garden wildlife survey.

Hundreds of thousands are set to record garden birds, contributing to a vital picture of their welfare. For those who received a bird feeder over Christmas, or indeed any keen bird lover, a crucial question arises: are all feeders safe and suitable for the birds?

While the desire to support local wildlife and enhance personal wellbeing drives many to feed garden birds, the market is flooded with options, prompting concerns about which types might be best avoided.

Hayley Willmington, RSPB head of buying and merchandising, offers the following advice.

Features and feeders to avoid

Don’t go for feeders that aren’t easy to take apart or clean, or that require extra tools to do so. Also, watch out for feeders with sharp perch edges or gaps, which could cause injury to birds.

Avoid suet that comes in netting as birds could get beaks or feet trapped in it.

And avoid flat feeders including bird tables, but also flat trays beneath hanging feeders due to the potential for the spread of disease. There is evidence to suggest that damp food on flat feeding surfaces like bird tables can increase the risks of spreading disease among some garden birds.

What feeders should you be using?