Up, up and away...or found on the ground?

I am often contacted by people who have found a young garden bird (or birds) sitting on the ground and looking as if they have been abandoned by their parents. This can understandably cause concern.

The first thing to say is that this is very common, and in over 95% of cases, there is no need to be worried and you should not intervene. For example, this gorgeous young robin is clearly doing very well for himself and feathering up.

Last week Richard attended a really informative meeting held at Rotherfield Farm near Alton, to hear about the conservation work they are doing to help re-establish grey partridge on the farm and increase lapwing numbers which have been in sharp decline over the last decade. The farm is owned by Sir James Scott and has been in the family for the last 200 years. It is a 5,000 acre estate, with arable, forestry and a large dairy.

Grey partridge are one of the 3 main indicators for modern day farming. The other two are brown hares and skylarks. Here on the farm we have hares and skylarks in abundance, but we lost our grey partridge about 5 years ago - so this was a fantastic opportunity for Richard to find out what we can do to help them recover.

Grey Partridge

So far, April has been a very dry month here on the farm. In fact, we haven't had a single drop of rain all month. This means that our spring barley which we planted in early April badly now needs a drink. Rain is forecast next week and I am sure there will be some mightily relieved growers everywhere when the rainclouds appear.

This year, we have tried direct drilling for the first time and we are very excited about the huge positive impact this type of drilling may have on our farm. You may remember that last November Richard topped off a field of mustard which we had sown after harvest as a 'cover crop' to hold nutrients and moisture in the ground.

Mustard planted after harvest last year and used as a cover crop for this year's naked oats

This year, for the first time in about 5 or 6 years, we have a flock of Golden Plover back on the farm, which is really lovely to see. They are enjoying our over-wintered stubble fields, where they can get stuck into all sorts of worms and invertebrates, and they are also enjoying our grass seed, wild bird cover seed and hedgerow berries. As I am writing this, I am wondering whether the plural is 'plover' or plovers'? One sounds right, the other looks right...need to consult the dictionary!

Regularly cleaning and disinfecting your bird feeders is just as important as filling them. Unsanitary feeding stations and bird baths can encourage the spread of wild bird diseases like salmonellosis, so good bird feeder hygiene is essential if you want to help your feathered friends stay safe and healthy.

PICTURED: Peckish Bird Feeder Cleaning Brush

Read on to learn how to clean and disinfect your feeders in order to limit the spread of disease among your local bird populations.

How often should I clean my bird feeder?

Feeding surfaces should be scraped at least once a week to remove bird droppings and old food. More frequent scraping is recommended during busy periods and spells of wet / humid weather. A scraper tool is handy for this job.

You should also disinfect your feeders once a fortnight. Use a quaternary ammonium disinfectant (we recommend Ark-Klens™) and be sure to read the instructions carefully before use. You'll need to dilute the disinfectant with water and wait a few minutes before rinsing it off.

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How to clean a bird feeder

NOTE: Always wear gloves when cleaning bird feeders. Clean your feeders outside, and don't use any of the utensils you use to clean your own dishes, cutlery, etc.

• Before you start cleaning your bird feeder, throw away the contents so that the feeder is totally empty.
  
  
• Once the feeder is empty, soak all of the parts in warm water and washing-up liquid for 15 to 20 minutes.
  
  
• Use a suitable cleaning brush to make sure the feeder is totally clean. A long cleaning brush may be needed if you're cleaning a long tube feeder.
  
  
• Rinse the feeder thoroughly with clean water to remove all soap, then let the feeder dry completely before refilling it.
  
  
• Wash your hands when you're finished.

TOP TIP: Investing in an easy-clean bird feeder can make your life much easier!

For more information about keeping your bird feeders clean, check out our Feeder Hygiene page or get in touch with the experts here at Really Wild Bird Food. We'll do our best to answer any questions you have!

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