ISLANDERS have been issued advice about putting bird feeders out to help prevent the spread of a highly contagious illness.
The JSPCA said it and several other wildlife charities have revised their advice in response to the spread of disease.
This is because, the organisation said, research has highlighted a decline in “some of our most cherished garden birds” linked to a disease known as trichomonosis.
It warned this is a “highly contagious illness” which can “spread rapidly where birds congregate in large numbers, particularly around feeders”.
However, the JSPCA said Islanders can help prevent the spread of disease among garden birds by doing the several things.
The first it says is to feed seasonally because “during summer and autumn there’s a higher risk of disease spreading”.
Therefore, it says to pause filling bird feeders with seeds or peanuts from the 1 May until 31 October, during which time it says they have “more natural food”.
But, the charity added that it is still okay to offer small amounts of mealworms, fatballs or suet, during this period.
The JSPCA suggested Islanders take several measures to ensure they feed birds safely to prevent the spread of disease.
First, it advises to clean bird feeders and water baths at least once a week, ensuring to clean away old food and droppings from below feeders. It added that bird feeders should be placed in a different spot every week to prevent any build-up of potentially contaminated debris underneath.
For those with more than one bird feeder, the JSPCA advised that people put them in different areas to reduce the number of birds in one place and mixing of different species.
People should also avoid putting feeders in places where birds roost, such as under trees to avoid contamination.
It also urged people to not use bird feeders with flat surfaces such as bird tables, window feeders and feeders with trays as it increases contamination risk and said people should adjust how much they put out based on demand to avoid overfeeding and making sure food put out is eaten within one or two days.
Food should also be kept as dry as possible, by for example, picking feeders that limit rain getting in and condensation, as damp food allows disease to survive and spread.
Bird bath water should be from the tap and changed daily, it said, adding that ponds are the best way to provide them with water.
And the best way to help birds, it says to help them find their own food by filling your outdoor space with bird-friendly plants like sunflowers, teasels and ivy.
