Finches Friend, the Wild Bird Feeding Industry, and the RSPB
The journey of Finches Friend traces back to a heartbreaking incident involving around 40 Green Finches in my Kent garden seven years ago. Unbeknownst to me at the time, my three large tube feeders, bought from a garden center, were inadvertently causing harm. I cleaned them infrequently, unaware of the potential for disease transfer in wild bird feeders. By the time I grasped the gravity of the situation, it was too late.
Though I cannot confirm, it's likely that my Greenfinches fell victim to Trichomonosis, a disease with symptoms similar to salmonellosis, as informed by a BTO representative. Regardless, feeder cleanliness lay at the heart of the problem.
As a design engineer with limited experience in plastics, I embarked on a mission to find easy-to-clean feeders. Frustratingly, my search yielded no results. This led me to contemplate solutions, eventually guiding me towards creating a feeder that separated food from feeding, making cleaning a breeze. Little did I know that this journey would take an unexpected turn, bringing me face to face with the challenges posed by the RSPB.
Around 2005, Trichomonosis emerged as a significant issue in the UK. Organizations like the RSPB, BTO, and ZSL set up Garden Wildlife Health to address the problem. It was revealed that Trichomonosis is parasitic, posing a serious threat to the wild bird feeding industry. Despite the industry's awareness of the disease risk, there was no regulatory structure, leading many to hide behind a mere "wash me" label.
Fast forward to 2010, the RSPB acknowledged the potential harm their products posed and took action. However, their response—feeders should be easily stripped for cleaning—seemed inadequate. Over time, they continued selling existing products and introduced new ones that prioritized profits over safety. Despite being aware of the risks, the RSPB's communication on disease advice remained buried on a neglected web page.
As Finches Friend evolved, my goal was clear—to create products that minimized the risk of disease transfer among wild birds. However, our attempts to engage with the RSPB were met with silence and later hostility. Today, we are barred from advertising in the RSPB magazine, and communication with Rebecca Speight, the CEO, has ceased.
In 2024, Finches Friend remains committed to developing innovative products designed to safeguard our gardens from potential wild bird disease transfer. We also strive to shed light on questionable products offered by the RSPB, products that, in our view, legitimize harmful practices in garden centers. We invite the RSPB to publicly address concerns and clarify their stance on issues such as wet food, wooden and clay feeders, and feeder cleaning times. Let's open a dialogue and work together for the well-being of our feathered friends.
