Is feeding birds in your garden a bad idea?

Is feeding birds in your garden a bad idea?

From Do you really know? by Bababam

June 12, 2026 · 5 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the potential negative effects of bird feeders on bird populations and offers safer alternatives for supporting wildlife in gardens.

Leaving food out for the birds seems like a harmless and even generous idea, but research by the British Trust for Ornithology is showing that bird feeders might be doing more harm than good. Between 2008 and 2018, chaffinch numbers dropped by 29 per cent in the UK, while 67 per cent of the country's greenfinches were lost, the study reveals. How do bird feeders spread this disease? How can I keep using my bird feeder safely? Are there other ways to support birdlife in your garden? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: ⁠⁠Why will we be using liquefied natural gas to heat our homes this winter?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠How can I improve my concentration at work?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠What is Ramsay-Hunt syndrome, the disorder affecting Justin Bieber⁠⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue. First Broadcast: 11/10/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Amber Minogue

Topics covered

  • bird feeding
  • garden wildlife
  • bird health
  • environmental impact
  • conservation

Keywords

  • bird feeders
  • chaffinch
  • greenfinch
  • bird health
  • wildlife support

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: British Trust for Ornithology

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