Evening Wendy, just when I was thinking we were going to get away without seeing a case this year seems this poor Greenie is first victim in the garden; we only have around 4 greenies and really hope the others stay healthy; guess we can only keep up the hygiene routine and an eye out for any sick birds but its gut-wrenching when you see them and can do nothing to cure them :(
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Regards, Hazel
Many thanks Jenny, I'll keep my eyes open and fingers crossed that we see no more of this dreadful disease.
Gutted for the little fella. I know it's nature but it's hard not to feel for them. On a plus side I have not seen any more signs than my initial concern and was heartened when I saw them on Autumn watch displaying the same eating habits discarding the husks, I've still got a troop of 7-9 cleaning me out of hearts. Hopefully yours is a one off case hazel.
Morning Martin, thanks for your comments and as you say, hope this is a one off case but I will have to keep a lookout for further signs of this nasty disease. I saw the Greenfinch this morning and am now certain it has the Trichomonas as often after they eat, they take a drink - fortunately we have no water bowls or they would be removed straight away as they carry high risk transfer of the parasite; we have a pond and it was drinking from the edge so much less risk as its a place birds don't use, only on rare occasion. They tend to drink from the waterfall run offs.
On the bright side, I was really heartened to learn that you have no signs of Trichomonas in your garden and it was just the husk removal you saw. I'm sure you would spot instantly a sick bird as they look poorly and very fluffed up with Trich. Hopefully, I can continue to feed the birds with just the one sick Greenfinch, shame it often happens at a time when birds are in more need of our help to supplement their food. Got my fingers crossed and once I can capture the Greenfinch I will separate it from the other birds and get it to vet :(
Hi Hazy, So sorry to hear you've got a sick Greenfinch. I really hope that it's restricted to just the one. It must be heart-breaking for you with all your hard work keeping it all clean & then it probably brings it in from somewhere else. I hope you can catch it soon. Could you make some sort of a cage with sunflower hearts & water inside & then when you see this one go in, drop down the door? It's probably easier said than done but then you could market it & the RSPB sell it for catching sick birds. There must be a lot of people who have the same problem.
Best wishes
Hazel in Southwest France
Sorry you've found a sick Greenfinch, Hazel. Let's hope it's an isolated case.
I think they must have had a good breeding season this year as I'm getting quite a lot of youngish looking ones coming the the feeders. Ironically, not many Goldfinch which are usually the most numerous finch that I get.
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Hi, thanks Tony, thankfully, there does seem to have been a good number of Greenies hatched this year although we never get many in the garden. I have seen flocks of them around the Neumann's/Northwich area that we walk.
Not seen any other poorly birds in the garden apart from female chaffinch and bullfinch which always succumb to Papilloma virus warts on their legs/feet so fingers crossed and I'll try and capture the sick Greenfinch if I get an opportunity so I can remove him from the garden.