Greenfinch ill?

Oh dear, unfortunately it does look like it might be Trichomonosis - the advice is to remove all feeders and water sources for at least two weeks. It's also worth raking areas under the feeders to allow frost eat to have a good chance of killing off the parasite.

www.bto.org/.../trichomonosis

Cin J

I agree with Germain, and as tough as it might appear to be, taking down feeders is the best/right course of action, even if it's cold.

In reply to ItisaRobbo:

Also to add to Robbo's reply (I'm more than sure he would add the following), thoroughly clean the feeders as well to reduce further spread.

The hard part will be the first few days, when the birds keep coming to the empty feeding station, but they'll soon find food, and TBH, it doesn't do any harm once in a while to remove the feeders so to keep their ability to find food in good stead.

Mike

Flickr Peak Rambler

Yes, I agree that it's best to clean the feeders while they're down. But, the important thing is they needed to be taken down 18th Jan and still be down now.

I think the main problem with bird disease is unlike in seabird and waterfowl, infections of garden birds are almost always only seen when the birds are alive. People could end up blissfully unaware of spread and death, and even feel vindicated with carrying on feeding.

In reply to ItisaRobbo:

ItisaRobbo said:

I think the main problem with bird disease is unlike in seabird and waterfowl, infections of garden birds are almost always only seen when the birds are alive. People could end up blissfully unaware of spread and death, and even feel vindicated with carrying on feeding.

Very true.

Mike

Flickr Peak Rambler