Helping Sick Birds in Britain

May 11, 2026, 10:48
UKEnvironment

Introduction

The RSPB has new rules to help small birds. Many birds are dying because of a sickness.

Main Body

Many greenfinch birds are gone. A small parasite makes them sick. The birds get this sickness from other sick birds at food stations. Do not give seeds or peanuts from May to October. Do not use flat bird feeders. These feeders help the sickness spread. Plant flowers like Lavender and Sunflowers. These plants give birds natural food. Do not use chemicals on your garden. Clean your bird feeders every week. Give birds fresh water every day.

Conclusion

People must clean feeders and plant natural gardens. This will save the birds.

Learning

🛑 STOP vs. ✅ GO

In this text, we see how to tell people what to do and what NOT to do. This is a key skill for A2 English.

The "Don't" Pattern (Negative Instructions) To stop someone from doing something, we put Do not (or Don't) at the start.

  • Do not give seeds →\rightarrow (Stop this action)
  • Do not use chemicals →\rightarrow (Stop this action)

The "Do" Pattern (Positive Instructions) To tell someone to start an action, we start with a strong action word (verb).

  • Plant flowers →\rightarrow (Do this now)
  • Clean your feeders →\rightarrow (Do this now)
  • Give fresh water →\rightarrow (Do this now)

Quick Vocabulary Map

  • Spread →\rightarrow to go from one place to many places.
  • Parasite →\rightarrow a tiny living thing that makes others sick.
  • Natural →\rightarrow from nature, not made by humans.

Vocabulary Learning

help (v.)
to give assistance or support
Example:I will help you with your homework.
bird (n.)
a small animal that can fly
Example:The bird sang in the morning.
rule (n.)
a statement that tells what is allowed or expected
Example:The teacher gave a rule about homework.
small (adj.)
not big in size or amount
Example:She has a small cat.
sickness (n.)
an illness that makes you feel unwell
Example:He had a fever because of a sickness.
food (n.)
anything that can be eaten
Example:I like to eat fresh food.
seed (n.)
a small part of a plant that can grow into a new plant
Example:The bird ate a seed.
peanut (n.)
a small round nut that is eaten as a snack
Example:I had a peanut for a snack.
flat (adj.)
not curved, having a level surface
Example:The table is flat.
feeder (n.)
a device that gives food to animals
Example:The bird feeder is full of seeds.
plant (v.)
to put a seed or sapling into the ground so it can grow
Example:We will plant a tree in the yard.
flower (n.)
the colorful part of a plant that produces seeds
Example:The flower smells nice.
garden (n.)
a piece of land where plants are grown
Example:I walk in the garden every evening.
clean (v.)
to remove dirt or stains from something
Example:Please clean your room before guests arrive.
water (n.)
a clear liquid that plants and animals need to drink
Example:Drink water every day to stay healthy.
save (v.)
to keep something safe or to use it later
Example:We can save money by buying in bulk.
natural (adj.)
existing in nature and not made by people
Example:The natural scenery was beautiful.