Press Releases - Sept/Oct 2005 - Item 3

No. 2005/09/29
September 2005

Help keep garden birds healthy

A new leaflet has just been launched to help garden birdwatchers look after the birds that visit their gardens this winter. Produced by the BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch Team, the leaflet provides much-needed advice on the diseases that may affect garden birds and how to minimize the risks of disease transmission between birds visiting garden feeding stations. This leaflet is available free from GBW Hygiene Leaflet, BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU.

Wild birds are susceptible to a range of different diseases, some of which are more commonly reported than others. Among the diseases affecting birds using garden feeding stations are those caused by Salmonella and E.coli bacteria. These are of particular concern because they are infectious and may lead to severe outbreaks under certain conditions. It is well-known that disease transmission is increased where animals or birds gather together in large numbers, something that many birds will do during the winter months when lack of food concentrates birds in particular areas (such as at garden bird feeding stations). This means that people feeding birds in their gardens need to be aware of the potential for visiting birds to pass diseases between one another.

Mike Toms, BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch Organiser, notes, “Many people put out food for garden birds but don’t think about hygiene. The best garden feeding stations are restaurants for birds, where good quality food is provided on clean tables. The leaflet we have produced provides a common sense approach to hygiene, helping garden birdwatchers to ensure that any birds that visit carrying a disease do not pass it on to others.”

“For example, brushing down a bird table at the end of the day to remove droppings and uneaten food – together with regular cleaning of the table with an appropriate disinfectant – should help you to maintain a good standard of hygiene. Similarly, aim to provide just enough food for visiting birds so that there isn’t a large amount of food left uneaten at the end of the day.”

A free copy of the leaflet can be obtained by writing to GBW Hygiene Leaflet, BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU, by telephoning 01842-750050 or by emailing

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. The BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch. The BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch is the only nationwide survey of garden birds to run weekly throughout the year, providing important information on how birds use gardens and how this use changes over time. Currently, some 16,500 people take part in the project. The BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch is funded through participants’ contributions, supported by CJ WildBird Foods Ltd, and is the largest year round of survey of garden birds anywhere in the world. For more information see www.bto.org/gbw

2. CJ WildBird Foods. CJ WildBird Foods is Europe’s leading supplier of bird food and feeding products. CJ WildBird Foods has been responsible for a number of significant developments within the bird food and feeding industry, including the introduction of black sunflower seed to the UK as a major new bird food and the development of specialist seed mixes for use in tubular feeders. The company has also been supporting research into the changing fortunes of garden bird populations, most notably through the BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch.

3. Radio Interviews. The BTO has a dedicated ISDN line available for radio interviews.

4. Colour photographs. Images of garden birds are freely available for use in association with this press release. Please email to request an electronic version.

For further information please contact:

Martin Fowlie on 01842 750050 (during office hours)
Mike Toms on 01842 750050 (during office hours)

Back to Index of 2005 Press Releases

Next 2005 Press Release