Heavy rain can put your bird feeder at a higher risk of spreading disease – this is the fix wildlife experts recommend to keep food dry and birds safe

Sparrows eating sunflower seeds from a bird feeder.

For the past week or so, the heavens have opened and not really stopped. As a result, wildlife experts have issued a fresh warning on how to feed birds in wet weather, warning that wet bird feed can cause the spread of disease.

If you have a wildlife garden or love attracting birds to your garden, there’s no doubt you have a bird feeder. But when the rain starts pouring, it’s really important to keep your feed dry - as wet bird feed is a breeding ground for mould and bacteria.