This task is essential for keeping Blue Tits alive and well(Image: Getty)
As the sunshine emerges and gardening gloves come out of storage, you might be anticipating the sound of birdsong at dawn and the sight of blue tits darting about your lawn.
But there's one crucial job you must complete before anything else to prevent harm coming to your feathered visitors.
While many of us have bird feeders dotted around our gardens, these can pose a deadly threat to our avian friends.
It's essential to undertake one key job now to prevent these feeders from becoming lethal.
All that's required is a pair of rubber gloves, hot soapy water, a brush, and a veterinary disinfectant. Regular cleaning of your bird feeders helps eliminate bacteria and fungal spores, according to Gardener's World, reports the Express.
These high traffic areas can quickly spread disease amongst birds(Image: Getty)
This is because bacteria and fungal spores can rapidly accumulate on bird feeders, as well as bird baths and bird tables. These can then quickly transmit infections amongst garden birds.
The straightforward solution is to ensure you're cleaning your feeders regularly to reduce the spread of infections. This is particularly vital at this time of year as it's breeding season.
You should also relocate your bird table to different spots in the garden to prevent diseases from concentrating in any single location.
To clean your bird feeder – put on your rubber gloves and remove all its seeds or pellets. Make sure to dispose of these as they could be contaminated with harmful bacteria.
Using hot soapy water, give the feeder a thorough clean with a brush, ensuring you remove any leftover food and droppings. Rinse it thoroughly with cold water – ideally using an outside tap if one is available.
Leave the feeder to air dry completely. Next, apply your veterinary disinfectant by spraying the feeder to ensure any remaining bacteria or spores have been eliminated.
Finally, rinse your feeder once more in cold water and allow it to dry fully before replenishing it with fresh feed.
Once your clean bird feeder is back in place, you can enjoy watching blue tits flit in and out of your garden, safe in the knowledge they'll be building up their strength ahead of spring without any risk of disease.
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