Feed or not feed the bird? Help needed!

Hi Isabel - I had this problem a couple of years ago - I stopped using all hanging feeders and bird tables for a couple of months and  soaked all the feeders in a solution from C.J. Wildbird Foods  and scrubbed the rest any I couldn't get thoroughly clean I got rid of.   I raked over the entire area of the garden where feeding areas had been removing all traces of seed etc.  - bagged it up and took it to the tip - I even scrubbed down garden statues and paving as the birds perch and walk on these areas.  Bark was replaced around feeding areas (a good idea is to keep moving feeding stations as this helps keep infection down) after about 6 weeks I started to slowly reintroduce the feeders but to different areas within the garden and this worked for me.  The problem is it doesn't matter how clean your feeders are the birds can feed at other stations and pick up the disease there.   I have spread my feeding area all around the back garden now using brick pillars between fencing to put seed for ground feeders and they have happily adjusted to these and I can clean them far more easily than I can the grass!  I restrict the amount of food I put on the lawn to just a handful in the morning and again later in the day for those who really like to root around.

It's a hard one to call and horrible to watch birds looking for food and denying them while you try to clean the area up however I have note had a real problem since but as I say  have chaged some of my methods of feeding as well which so far has helped.

Hi,

This is a heartbreaking disease, and all we can do is keep our feeding areas clean and hygienic and follow the RSPB advice. There are some other threads on the forums about it.

However, I wonder if someone with scientific knowledge of this disease would know if the virus is killed by frost, as some other animal viruses are.  If it is the case, and as virtually the whole country is suffering from exceptionally frosty weather, likely to be prolonged, maybe the disease could be contained?

Perhaps someone knows the answer to this???

Hi Lucybob and Sparrow

Thank you very much for your replies.

It is indeed a very heartbreaking disease. You feel that by feeding the birds in your garden you are helping them but in fact you are helping the virus transmission and encouraging death when the disease is present in your local finch population.

Stopping to feed is a very hard one, I have been there a month ago. That is when I saw the 2 dying greenfinches. I stopped feeding completely for about 3 weeks, cleaned everything and monitor the birds. When I could not see any affected birds, I resume feeding them. About three weeks from then, I saw the other 2 dying finches. The birds I used to feed went to visit the surrounding gardens and the transmission of the virus was carrying on. Stopping to feed the birds feels almost pointless to me as I live in a suburban area and a lot of garden feed the birds and do not seem to realise that our local finch population is affected. I mean spotting the dying birds isn’t necessarily easy and requires you to be watching the birds coming to your garden. I am not sure that everyone has time to do that. Also, I am not sure that everyone is willing to accept the reality of the disease and is prepared to stop feeding.

So, even if I stopped feeding the birds today, I know that whenever I will resume feeding the birds, there will still be birds dying of trichomonas in my garden because the dozen of gardens surrounding me seems unaware or in rejection of the presence of the disease in our gardens.

But I guess, the most important is me, would I prefer not to feed the birds knowing the potential but uncertain risk for them not to find food during these cold winters or would I prefer to feed them knowing the certainty of transmitting the disease? I think that I prefer to limit the spread of that nasty virus. So I am definitely going to follow your advice Lucybob. I am going to reduce my feeding with the aim to completely stop feeding the finches shortly, just so that I give a chance to all the other birds to adapt.

Thank you for your advice Lucybob and Sparrow. Feeding the birds isn’t indeed just about putting food out for the birds. It is about being responsible for them by practising good hygiene, monitoring disease and stopping to feed when required. That is what I have been learning during the past two years I have been feeding the birds with the help of the RSPB websites and now the RSPB forum community.

Sparrow, I was asking myself the same question regarding this virus? is frost/ice improving/reducing/stopping the transmission of trichomonas?

I do have another questions as well, can trichmononas get transmitted from the finches to the tits/robins/blackbirds…? are there scientific evidences of that? I know that it has affected sparrows as well so I am curious to know how nasty this virus is.

Many thanks again and sorry for this long email, just feeling hurt by this deadly virus.

Hi Isabell - this problem can be so distressing - have just looked at R.S.P.B. - sick birds sight and there is an email address and telephone no you can ring if the problem persists and they may be able to help you.  Not very technically minded myself but I logged on to r.s.p.b. and found heading for 'sick birds' this then lead me to your problem and the contact nos etc.  Hope this makes sense - if you dont get to link leave a message on my page and I will go in again and make a better job of it!

Dear Isabel 

you should not stop  feeding the birds completely but change the bird food so only some 

birds will feed.

p.s chose a suitable bird feed. 

goldeneagle788 said:

Dear Isabel 

 you should not stop  feeding the birds completely but change the bird food so only some 

birds will feed.

An impossible sentiment I fear. Some birds eat just about anything put out - house sparrows notably, also pigeons, jackdaws, and especially starlings.

Which foods are you suggesting should be put out, and which done away with?

Hi Isabel

Had the same problem myself.  I didn't see it in my finches but in my collard doves.  I stopped feeding and cleaned everything within an inch of it's life.  When I thought it was safe I started feeding again.  As far as I am aware there is only one other house up the road from me that feeds the birds.  Unlike yourself, you say there are many of your neighbours that feed the birds.  Obviously I don't know where you live but would it be possible to put a flyer around your immediate neighbours highlighting the problem.  They may in all fairness be completely unaware of the disease.  Even though they don't see sick birds, they must care for them othereise they wouldn't feed them,  so perhaps would be completely willing to do their bit.

The also added worry is at this time of year, especially so with the cold cold weather.  Not sure what to suggest really but by helping those that you get, could make all the difference to the many that are in your area.

I really wish you good luck in this.  It's absolutely heartbreaking to see the vicitims of this disease.   This may be a stupid wish, but I hope that some day the experts will produce an antidote that can be put into bird feed (cost effective of course) to stop all this suffering.

Hi Isabel,

I'm so sorry to hear of this, it must be awful for you. I am the only person who feeds the birds in my little area but I feel you are fighting a losing battle unless you can get your neighbours to stop aswell. I have just had a new male chaffinch visit due to the bad weather and I'm worried he could have it & pass it on to my greenfinches & goldfinches now. Are there particular areas of the country where the virus is present - does the RSPB have any data on this? 

I had 2 separate and unrelated cases this summer, the last in August. The first was a  siskin who was very sick, then found dead in my garden a day or two later. The second was a very sick greenfinch about 5 weeks later. These seem to have been isolated incidences, thank goodness, and touch wood I haven't had an repeats. I reported both of them to the RSPB, and received the following response:

I am pleased to see from your report that they have remained odd ones out, rather than heralded an outbreak in your area. I do hope that your neighbourhood will remain free from disease outbreaks, but should you come across other birds that look visibly sick or find large numbers of dead ones, please do get in touch with me directly either by email or telephone so I can give you advice and information appropriate to the situation in hand at the time.

This is a photo of the poorly greenfinch

My advice to you Isabel is to email the RSPB wildlife advisor and ask for their advice. The address is kirsi.peck@rspb.org.uk

goldeneagle788 said:

Dear Isabel 

 

you should not stop  feeding the birds completely but change the bird food so only some 

birds will feed.

p.s chose a suitable bird feed. 

Hi goldenegle788

What's suitable bird feed?   I'd be interested to know what is and what isn't  - obviously if I'm doing it wrong, would like to know now.