Monday, January 11, 2010
Greenfinches
Last year from late spring onwards we had a few ill looking young greenfinches at the feeders here in North Wales.I found several dead around the garden from summer right through to autumn,probably around 10 or so birds in all. I just assumed these were weakling youngsters who came to the feeders as they could not manage out in the wild. But in late Autumn my mother who moved to Essex in late summer said she had several Greenfinches found dead in her garden has had my sister who lives a few miles away from her. This winter here on the Llyn Peninsula has been noticable in that Greenfinch (and Goldfinch) have been very scarce at the feeders whilst House Sparrows and Chaffinches are as common as ever. Has anyone else noticed either dead greenfinches or a scarcity of them since last summer in Calderdale ?
3 comments:
Hi Steve copied from RSPB site
Since summer 2005, a disease caused by a Trichomonad parasite has been reported in finch species in gardens. This was discovered as a result of work being carried out by the Garden Bird Health Initiative, of which the RSPB is part (see below).
Every year outbreaks are seen during the late summer and autumn. This disease does not pose a threat to the health of humans, cats or dogs.
Which birds are affected?
Greenfinches are reported most frequently, but other finch species and house sparrows are susceptible to the disease. Formerly, this disease was known from pigeons and doves, some birds of prey and gamebirds.
What happens?
The trichomonad parasite lives in the upper digestive tract of the bird, and its actions progressively block the bird’s throat making it unable to swallow food, thus killing it by starvation.
Birds with the disease show signs of general illness, for example lethargy and fluffed-up plumage, but affected birds may also drool saliva, regurgitate food, have difficulty in swallowing or show laboured breathing. Finches are frequently seen to have matted wet plumage around the face and beak. In some cases, swelling of the neck may be visible from a distance.
How is it transmitted?
The Trichomonad parasite is vulnerable to desiccation (drying out) and cannot survive for long periods outside the host. Transmission of infection between birds happens when they feed one another with regurgitated food during the breeding season and through food or drinking water contaminated with recently regurgitated saliva, or possibly from droppings of an infected bird.
What can I do?
Good hygiene practice, specifically the regular cleaning of all feeders, bird baths and feeding surfaces, is an essential part of looking after garden birds and will help to lower the risk to birds of diseases, including trichomoniasis.
If trichomoniasis is suspected, it is recommended to temporarily stop putting out food, except in tit feeders, and leave bird baths dry, for around two weeks, or until sick or dead birds are no longer found in the garden. This is in order to discourage birds from congregating together, which may increase the potential for disease spread between individuals.
No effective treatment can be administered to birds in the wild, because it is impossible to ensure that the infected individuals receive an adequate dose and that healthy birds do not pick up the medicine.
sorry Paul
Hi Sean
Thanks for the info.
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