Our resident vet Lesley responds to the RSPB's controversial new guidance on supplementary bird feeding.

Many of our customers have been in touch asking for advice regarding the RSPB's recent announcement that, in their opinion, supplementary feeding of seeds and peanuts to garden birds should cease between May and October. I would like to set out our position and my personal thoughts on this topic.

Firstly, let me say that from a veterinary perspective and as bird-loving farmers, we do not agree with the RSPB's recommendation that you should stop feeding seeds and peanuts during the summer months. The issue is not what you feed your wild birds; it is how you feed them.

Pictured: goldfinches enjoying our High Energy Blend™ bird seed mix.

We know that if you encourage birds (or any other animals) into close proximity with one another, there is an increased risk of spreading disease – just like children at the start of a school term. For garden birds, this applies to any infectious organism (things like avian pox, scaly leg, gut parasites and bacteria) but it is specifically the infection of finches with the Trichomonas protozoan parasite which has prompted the RSPB's change in position regarding supplementary feeding.

While greenfinch numbers have declined significantly in the last 20 years (the organism has been causing disease in finches since around 2006), there is now evidence that those numbers are recovering. Many of our customers are reporting new sightings of greenfinches and increased numbers returning to their gardens, which is excellent news – and I believe that the hygienic feeding practices we have been advising and promoting for very many years are now making a difference. Things are improving!

However, there is still much to do and we must not become complacent.

Why We Need to Keep Feeding Wild Birds

We all love our garden birds and we have a duty to look after them. That duty of care, however, also extends to feeding them and helping them to survive in what is an increasingly challenging world for them. By this, I mean the significant changes in climate (we in the UK now experience severe drought, persistent flooding and frequent extreme high winds) and the huge decline in natural food availability (insects, invertebrates and natural seeds) as a result of climate change, urbanisation and intensive farming practices.

The breeding season is the key time to ensure success of any species.

Without successful broods of young healthy chicks, bird numbers will plummet. There are already many garden birds whose numbers are in decline: house sparrows, tree sparrows, blackbirds, thrushes and starlings to name a few. These declines are not disease related but climate and environment related, and this is why garden birds have come to rely on us so heavily for supplementary food. If they didn't need the food, they wouldn't be at our feeders.

Take the autumn months as an example. In autumn, most birds leave us! They head off to find natural food sources because they don't need our help. During the breeding months (April to July) they most certainly do need our help. We absolutely will not be restricting their vital food source during these months, and we recommend that you don't either.

The Scientific Bit

With my veterinary hat on, I must also comment on the 'science review' that led to the new RSPB recommendations. It is worth mentioning that this work is currently not peer reviewed. In my opinion, to hold scientific credibility, research work should be peer reviewed before publication.

While the trial did show the presence of the Trichomonas organism on swabs taken from food, feeders and water baths in gardens where diseased birds were present, of particular note is that only seed feeders were swabbed (to my knowledge no other foodstuff was tested) and from a relatively small sample size of 106, the organism was only detected in 1.88% of samples of seed from feeder (2 out of 106) and they did not isolate the organism at all from 108 swabs taken from the actual feeder ports / mesh. Positive detections were much higher, however, in swabs taken from base trays (19%) and water baths (24%). These findings do suggest that water baths and feeder trays / flat feeding surfaces are likely to be the main nidus of infection and we should pay particular attention to those when setting a strategy to minimise the transmission of disease.

Sick birds will often spend prolonged periods of time just sitting on feeder trays or water baths (or the ground) trying unsuccessfully to eat and drink, regurgitating contaminated saliva. The Trichomonas organism thrives best in damp, unhygienic conditions and can be killed quite easily by heat and drying. This is why more diseased birds are seen during the colder, wetter winter months.

What to Do Now

It is very important that we all continue to do the right thing by our garden birds and just revisit our home setup to minimise the risk of spreading disease in and around feeding areas and water baths. I will be writing more on this topic in the near future, but here are my headline recommendations to help you look after your garden birds:

• Continue to feed high-quality, high-energy food (including seeds, peanuts, suet and mealworms) during the breeding season in particular. Opt for no-mess, husk-free seed mixes. Also, live mealworms are a particularly good choice for the breeding season because they're high in protein and moisture and easy for adults to transport back to the nest.
  
  
• Feed according to demand. We recommend filling your feeders on a daily basis, and only putting in as much food as your birds will consume in one day. Putting fresh food out every day is better for the birds, plus it will mean that you notice right away when your feeders need cleaning!
  
  
• Clean all feeders weekly. We recommend using easy-to-clean hanging feeders whose ports and bases can be easily removed for a more thorough scrub. Browse our easy-clean feeder range here.
  
  
• Don't attach seed trays to the bottom of feeders. Sick birds will often sit on seed trays for prolonged periods and these can act as reservoirs of infection.
  
  
• Avoid using the flat surface of bird tables or flat ground feeders (unless they can be regularly cleaned). Sick birds can sit for prolonged periods on feeding tables, drooling saliva that's contaminated with the protozoa. This can then infect healthy birds visiting the table for up to 5 days, so avoid leaving this potential reservoir.
  
  
• Relocate your feeders on a regular basis. You should also make sure the areas under your feeders are brushed or scraped up as frequently as possible (but at least once a week).
  
  
• Avoid using multi-feeder feeding stations that encourage large numbers of birds to congregate in close proximity. Instead, place individual feeders in separate locations, and as noted above, remember to clear up the area underneath each feeder regularly.
  
  
• Be extra-vigilant about bird bath hygiene. As the results above show (a 24% isolation rate), bird bath hygiene is absolutely critical for the continued health of your garden birds. Swap out any large, heavy, difficult-to-clean bird baths for smaller baths that can be easily brought indoors for scrubbing. Birds love to poo in their baths, so please make it part of your daily ritual to throw out the dirty water, give the bath a quick scrub, and replenish with clean water. Your garden birds will thank you!
  
  
• Help your family. We know how much our older relatives love their garden birds and how much pure enjoyment they get from their company. Often it is not easy for them to take down feeders, move feeders or clean them easily. So if you (or the grandchildren!) are able to give a helping hand, it can only be to the benefit of the local wild birds.
  
  
• Rest up during the autumn months. As mentioned above, bird numbers in our gardens start to decline naturally (depending on the weather) from August / September through to November, when they can mostly fulfil their needs elsewhere. This is therefore the most suitable time to scale back your bird feeding efforts

As many of our customers know, I am a vet with a First-Class Honours degree and I do have many years of experience feeding wild birds. It is a fact that no two gardens are the same, no two bird populations are the same and no two days are the same! But one thing that is the same is our love of garden birds and our desire to do our very best for them.

Please keep a close eye on what is happening in your garden – and if you have any doubts, queries or questions, I will be very happy to help you out in any way I can. You can send me your questions here.

Enjoy and take care of your garden birds!
Lesley

Visit Our Bird Seed Shop

Spring has arrived and wheels are turning!

It is great to be out on the land again, after a long winter. The soil has changed quickly from being very wet to quite dry as a result of the cold N/NE winds we have been having.

Our spring naked oats have been in the ground for 10 days but have not yet emerged (I think it is too cold for them to pop their heads out!) and we have been discing the canary seed ground, getting it ready for drilling (photo above).

Other jobs have involved rolling our winter oats. We roll to press the flints into the ground to stop them breaking the combine at harvest and also, rolling winter crops encourages them to tiller (produce more stems) which should help improve yields.

We have had a few punctures recently as a result of our flinty ground. The large sharp 'Hampshire Diamonds' (if only they were!) are hard on tyres and farm machinery, particularly cultivator points which wear down quickly. Cultivator points penetrate and break up the soil. Because we have such abrasive soil, we need to use points made from tungsten carbide, one of the hardest materials used in farming. They are expensive to buy (what isn't these days?) but they are more wear-resistant than standard steel. This has lots of benefits: tungsten carbide will stay sharper for longer, improving soil penetration (and very importantly, especially at the moment, fuel consumption) since it is easier to pull sharp points across a field than blunt ones! With fewer replacements needed, they reduce the significant 'downtime' associated with changing points. Anything which reduces the time Merv and Richard have to be on their knees under farm machinery gets a big thumbs up!

On the subject of fuel, I was incredulous to hear Trump state that America will get richer on the back of increased global oil prices. Fuel is one of the largest variable costs on arable farms and of course the huge price hike we are currently all experiencing has coincided perfectly with the start of our spring land work. A large percentage of our farm is sown into spring crops (for your bird food) so we have to look at smart ways to limit input costs, whilst still producing good yields and quality seed. Richard is constantly assessing and revisiting our crop rotations, and until the seed goes into the ground, the plan can be subject to change. With all input costs currently so high, things like direct drilling and minimising 'passes' across the fields will all be used to conserve fuel.

PICTURED: Blackthorn in flower (left) and spring violets (right)

This year has been a true spring with a blackthorn winter. A 'blackthorn winter' is an old traditional term used to describe a sudden cold snap in early spring, usually happening around the time the blackthorn plant blooms.

Traditional folklore states that bad weather lasts whilst the blackthorn is in flower and as the flower wanes, better weather arrives. This year we have had warmth, cold, hail, frost, sun and rain with the flower. This changeable weather has made planting spring crops much easier this year (compared to last), since it has kept moisture in the soil. But the inclement spring weather has definitely been more challenging for garden birds; requiring more food to cope with the cold and the wind.

Golden Plovers on the Farm

We currently still have a small flock of around 30 golden plovers on the farm. They tend to be present on lowland farms from around October until March/April when they move back to upland breeding areas.

Whilst it is a relatively small flock we are delighted to be hosting them. They tend to fly as a tight flock and we often spot them as they lift off, showing golden flashes where the light catches their backs.

Golden plovers don't use farmland randomly, often returning to their favourite fields year after year. They do like open unobstructed ground (to be able to spot predators) and damp grassland, or a sparse crop of winter-sown cereal fits the bill. Being wading birds they have made the most of the flooding this year, where water-logged soil has offered up plentiful worms and insects. You can often identify them by their 'run-stop' feeding style, picking insects and worms and sprinting on! It won't be long before they head off up north but we will look forward to their return in late autumn.

Seed of the Month: Feeder Mix™

Feeder Mix™ is our SEED OF THE MONTH for April!

We've reduced the price of our Feeder Mix™ by 10% for this month only. Most of the seeds in this mix are grown right here on our farm – it's a delicious, free flowing mix that's particularly popular with finches and tits.

Here's a testimonial from one of our customers:

"This is the best feeder mix I've found, and believe me, I've tried an awful lot out on my garden birds! This mix doesn't have big dried-up stalks which clog the feeder and the birds love it. Delivery really quick and I definitely recommend this product and the company."

Buy Feeder Mix™ Now & Save 10%

Enjoy your birds!

With very best wishes,
Lesley

SHORT ANSWER: Yes! Feeding wild birds is a great way to support them – just make sure you're doing it responsibly.

A recent press release from the RSPB has received a lot of news coverage and caused no small amount of alarm. It warns nature lovers not to feed seeds or peanuts to their garden birds between the start of May and the end of October. Why? To help stop the spread of disease among British birds.

This certainly hasn't come out of the blue. Concerns about avian diseases, overcrowding, and the impact of human feeding habits have been raised loudly and repeatedly over the past few years. One might easily get the impression that the bird feeders in our gardens are actually doing more harm than good.

Now, as a qualified vet, I'm all too aware of the problems that poorly-maintained feeding areas can cause for wild bird populations. However, please be reassured that there's no need to stop feeding your feathered friends, who need your help now as much as ever!

PICTURED: I Love Robins® Easy-clean Hanging Treat Dish

Why feeding the birds is important

Garden feeding plays a key role in supporting British bird populations, particularly in urban and suburban areas where natural food sources tend to be in short supply.

A reliable source of high-energy food can make a real difference for many UK bird species, especially during the nesting season (March to September) as well as the cold winter months.

So feeding itself isn't the problem. The problem is hygiene.

Where the concerns come from

When large numbers of birds gather around the same feeding station, diseases can spread easily. Contaminated feeders, droppings, and leftover food can all contribute to the transmission of illnesses such as salmonellosis.

This is why some experts have raised concerns – not because feeding birds is a bad idea in itself, but because too many people aren't doing it hygienically.

How to feed birds safely

Practising good feeder hygiene is crucial to feeding birds safely and minimising the risk of disease.

Here are some expert tips:

• Clean and disinfect your feeders regularly. See How to Clean & Disinfect Bird Feeders for details. (You might want to consider replacing your current feeder with an easy-clean bird feeder to make this job easier.)
  
  
• Remove old food before it gets mouldy. Don't leave the same food in your feeders for more than a week. Any damp food should be replaced immediately.
  
  
• Use a scraper tool to keep your feeding station free of bird droppings.
  
  
• Move your feeding station to a different spot every so often. This will help to prevent droppings and uneaten food from building up in one specific area.
  
  
• If possible, place multiple bird feeders in different spots to avoid overcrowding.
  
  
• Fill your feeders with no-waste bird food to reduce mess on the ground.
  
  
• Keep any bird baths clean and topped up with fresh water.

These small steps will make a big difference to the health of your local bird population.

Keep feeding those birds!

As long as you follow good hygiene practices, feeding wild birds remains a positive and beneficial activity.

Recent warnings may have given you pause for thought, but the correct response is not to stop feeding your birds altogether. By keeping feeders clean and managing your feeding area carefully, you can continue to support your local wildlife without spreading disease.

Feeding wild birds is an easy way to feel closer to nature. With the right approach, it can be both safe and rewarding. If you're unsure where to start, or if you want to improve your bird feeding setup, explore our range of bird feeder cleaning products and feeding solutions — or drop me a line and I'll be happy to offer whatever advice I can!

Bird Feeder Cleaning Products   Ask a Question

This article comes from Lesley Smith, Really Wild Bird Food's co-founder and resident vet. Lesley frequently draws on her experience as a veterinary surgeon to provide guidance for customers who are concerned about the health of their garden birds. If you're interested in learning more about wild bird diseases, you can read more on the topic from Lesley here.

LAST UPDATED: 13th April 2026

A Birdwatching Moment in Fordingbridge

If you’re into birdwatching, you’ll know the thrill of spotting something unusual. But every now and then, something truly extraordinary happens, this is exactly what unfolded recently near Fordingbridge in Hampshire. Local birdwatchers have identified what is believed to be the oldest recorded Eurasian curlew in the UK. And honestly, it’s the kind of story that reminds you why people fall in love with nature.

Meet “Mrs Ogdens”

The star of the show is a female curlew affectionately known as “Mrs Ogdens.” She might look like any other curlew at first glance with long legs and a distinctive curved bill, but her story is anything but ordinary. Thanks to the coloured rings on her legs (used by researchers to track birds), experts were able to confirm her age: an incredible 33 years and nearly nine months. That’s practically unheard of for a bird like this. She was first ringed way back in 1992 on Brownsea Island, and has been quietly living her life ever since - migrating, feeding, and even raising chicks.

Spotted Near the Avon Valley

More recently, Mrs Ogdens has been seen in the Avon Valley, right near Fordingbridge, where she feeds during the colder months before heading back to the New Forest for the breeding season.  For local birdwatchers, spotting her isn’t just exciting—it’s deeply meaningful. You’re not just looking at a bird; you’re witnessing over three decades of survival, migration, and resilience.

Why This Matters

As uplifting as this story is, it also comes with a sobering reality. Curlews in the UK are in trouble. Their numbers have dropped significantly in recent decades, mainly because fewer chicks are surviving to adulthood. So while Mrs Ogdens is surviving, the next generation just are not being replaced quickly enough.

A Small Glimmer of Hope

There is some good news, though. Even at the ripe old age of 29, Mrs Ogdens successfully raised a chick!  This is a rare and encouraging sign that conservation efforts can work when the conditions are right. Projects focusing on habitat protection and predator management are slowly making a difference, especially in places like the New Forest. So next time you’re out walking near Fordingbridge, keep your eyes open. You never know, you might just catch a glimpse of a living legend.

If you have any further questions about Eurasian Curlews or bird feeding advice, please get in touch with us today and a member of our friendly team will be happy to help!

New products have landed – just in time for spring!

Scroll down to see some of our new peanut and suet feeders, or visit our New Additions page to see more of our latest arrivals.

Nagano Peanut & Suet Feeder

Ideal for offering whole peanuts!

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Suet Cake Basket

A sturdy cage with a pitched roof to keep your suet cakes nice and dry.

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Kyoto Peanut Feeder

A smart and stylish feeder with a breathable design that keeps peanuts fresh for longer.

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Ring-Pull™ Click Peanut PLUS Bird Feeder

Protect your peanuts / suet pellets from squirrels and other unwanted visitors!

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Vierno Peanut Cake Feeder

A simple yet stylish solution for hanging peanut cakes in your garden. The elegant design keeps the cakes visible while shielding them from sun and rain.

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Premium Suet Feeder

Comes with a lifetime guarantee against squirrel damage!

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Rome Suet Cake Feeder

This durable suet cake feeder is made from sustainable plant-based materials. A great choice for eco-conscious bird lovers!

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Rome Fat Ball Feeder

Crafted from durable plant-based materials, this fat ball feeder makes a great addition to all sorts of outdoor spaces.

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Don't forget to stock up on protein-packed peanuts and tasty suet for your garden birds!

Original Farm Gold™

is our SEED OF THE MONTH for March. Order now and get 15% off the usual price!

"The birds love this excellent food. A super pure seed mix, with no fillers or extras!" – C. Binnie, June 2022

Original Farm Gold™ is the perfect spring bird feed, and a fantastic choice for your garden birds at this time of year.

Homegrown is always best, and this delicious bird seed mix contains all the ingredients from our golden harvest days, with an added touch of sunshine! It is one of our most popular bird seed mixes and a really good choice during springtime. Packed with essential fats, vitamins and protein, it will keep breeding and nesting garden birds in tip-top condition and give them lots of energy for the busy days ahead.

And to encourage you to make the most of this fantastic bird seed mix, we are offering 15% off Original Farm Gold™ during March (offer ends 31st March). This means that prices now start from just £7.18 with fast and FREE delivery!

Buy Now

Spotlight on Song Thrushes

Now that spring is (almost!) here, we are seeing a lot more bird activity in our garden and out on the farm. The skylarks are sounding mellifluous, and we have noticed an increase in the number of blackbirds and song thrushes all out strutting their stuff and getting ready for the breeding period ahead.

While still quite common, song thrush numbers have declined in recent years and they are now on the Amber list of Birds of Conservation Concern. You know they are around when you find smashed snail shells lying on patios and paths and beside larger stones. Our song thrushes love rooting around for worms and snails at the base of our hedges, and I think they have truly enjoyed the recent wet weather which has done wonders for snail and slug populations!

The best way to support song thrushes is to leave some scrubby and messy (damp) areas in your garden. A bit of untidiness will offer extra food and cover, which will be much appreciated.

Enjoy your garden birds!

With very best wishes,
Lesley

It's the perfect time to put up a new nest box or refurbish an existing one.

Pictured above: Minnesota Nest Box 32mm with Wooden Roof

Winter begins to wane, daylight starts to stretch and birds start to sing. Although it seems early, you will notice more activity in your gardens as many of your feathered friends turn their attention to claiming their territory, checking out new potential nesting sites and building energy reserves for the breeding season ahead. As bird numbers suffer a general decline (due in part to a scarcity of natural nesting sites), a successful mating season is critical to lay the foundations for success of the next generation. Species such as tits, sparrows, wrens and robins often begin preparing for breeding well before spring arrives, and they are gearing up! Having clean, repaired nest boxes in sheltered positions in your garden will help the house-hunting process and will ease their transition to the breeding season.

We are celebrating National Nest Box Week (14th – 21st February) with some fantastic nest box offers. You can save up to 20% on selected nest boxes plus we will put in a FREE 30g bag of nesting wool with each nest box purchased!*

See What's on Offer >>

*Nest box offers available until 21st February or while stocks last. We will automatically add a free bag of nesting wool with each nest box ordered.

A Cosy Home For Jenny Wren

SAVE 20%

This Schwegler spherical wren house provides excellent protection from predators. Hang the nest box in low-level undergrowth in a shady place.

Save 20% Here >>

A Stylish New Home for Woody Woodpecker

SAVE 20%

This woodpecker nest box is handmade in solid, sustainably-sourced cedar with a 55mm entrance hole. Install it high up on a mature tree in a quiet location and wait for the new family!

Save 20% Here >>

SEE ALSO: Where to Put a Nest Box

Premium Seed of the Month

High Energy Blend™

Order our High Energy Blend™ before the end of February to save 10% on the normal price!

Here's what our customers have said about this seed mix:

"This is an excellent blend and has been attracting many garden birds this spring including sparrows, tits, robins, bullfinches, chaffinches, goldfinches and woodpecker. No mess because anything discarded by birds at the feeders gets picked up by others on the ground." – Kay

"It's a beautiful quality feed and the birds are absolutely loving it. Highly recommended." – Phillipa

"I am thrilled that your bird seed has brought so many wild birds to my garden. Absolutely recommend and also your bird feeder with rain protection." – Eve

Small birds have big energy needs, and there's no feed more packed with energy than our High Energy Blend™. With a free-flowing formulation and a 10% saving in February, it's the perfect choice for this cold, wet time of year.

Buy Now from Just £8.95 >>

Snack Smart!

Consider adding some high-energy suet to your bird feeding station at this time of year. It's delicious and high in calories – your birds will thank you!

SAVE 10% ON SELECTED SUET PRODUCTS! Just enter the code SNACKSMART10 at the checkout to claim your discount. Offer available until 21st February or while stocks last.

Honest 2 Nature Suet Cakes

High quality suet cakes with plastic-free and fully recyclable packaging. A great ECO choice!

Find Them Here >>

Peckaballs with Insect

Highly nutritious 'smaller' fat balls. High in calories with great texture and taste, and very versatile!

Find Them Here >>

Peckish Extra Goodness Nuggets

Perfect for small beaks and available in 2 different pack sizes.

Find Them Here >>

Well! I don't know about you, but I am a bit fed up with this incessant rain and I am really looking forward to spring and all the wonderful things that it brings.

Enjoy your birds!

With very best wishes,
Lesley

P.S. Don't forget checkout code SNACKSMART10 to make smart savings.