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Bird disease
Guernsey Donkey2
Posts: 6,713
in Plants
We have been warned about a bird disease called Trichomonosis or canker or frounce today. Apparently it affects the back of the throat or gullet of a bird and is prevalent in finches, sparrows and pigeons.
Has anyone had any experience of this affecting their garden birds?
Affected birds show signs of general illness, lethargy, fluffed up plumage and difficulty in swallowing. This is most alarming, as the main culpritt is unclean feeders harbouring these parasites.
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Fortunately never seen this
A A Milne
nor me. Sounds vile.
It's what is thought to have caused a severe decline in the greenfinch population in the UK in the recent past ........ I understand that numbers are now picking up as people are beginning to understand the importance of cleaning the birds feeders. Certainly when we came here in 2011 we didn't see any greenfinches - last year we saw several - fingers are crossed.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
A few years ago something wiped out our healthy population of greenfinches. I don't know what it was and didn't see distressed birds but their numbers dwindled to nothing. They disappeared over a wide area, not just my garden. However, chaffinches then increased in number as visitors to our garden and we had a thriving colony of very nosiy, sociable sparrows nesting in the eaves of the house.
In this new garden there are sparrows, but nit a lot, chaffinches and pigeons. No greenfinches.
The RSPB has more information; link below from a post a while ago. I have to admit, I don't usually take much notice of my bird feeders. I will from now.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/wildlife/f/901/t/19617.aspx
Last edited: 24 March 2017 08:32:54
Thanks for the link Seed, which I have now read and plan to clean our bird feeders more often. This feeding birds malarkey is becoming a full time job!
I try and keep my feeders regularly cleaned. Now that OH is around most of the time I soak them in soapy water with some vinegar. When he's not looking I put them thru the dishwasher.
You'd think they'd pick up more diseases from pecking about other places in the garden!
Oh dear, I didn't intend to start a war with this post, but I can see that most OH's are the same - anything extra from the norm and they shirk away and pretend it isn't happening in their back yard. Whereas we females square up and get on with the job. Of course there are exceptions, and I know quite a few men will take exception to this comment - please don't - it is all meant in jest.
You are right Seed. Surely birds pecking at food that perhaps a rodent has also had a feed off, or pecking around cow pats etc. would harbour far more germs and parasites - after all the bird feeders get a good wash when it rains don't they.
I don't think I will be dropping in for a cup of tea at your place Obelixx - (only joking), I must admit to thinking of cleaning the loo with a certain toothbrush before now!
GD - when he's not looking I also have been known to put my trowels and Wolf heads through the dishwasher for a good clean and ceramic pots too. I do, of course, remove all visible muck first but then they can go away clean and dry and oiled - as needed - till I need them again.
I do think a good heating or else some vinegar clears off a lot of nasty bugs and germs that can be harmful to birds.