I know that a lot of birds, especially chaffinchs it seems get that horrid disease that makes them all puffed up and not able to eat. Is there anything you can do for an affected bird? Always supposing you could catch it? I find it heart-breaking watching them starve to death despite desperately trying to feed. I always wash and keep clean our feeding area, which believe it or not attracts over 36 species of birds, including 2 pairs of bullfinches :)
Appearing 'puffed up', or lack of appetite, are just two general symptoms of a bird that is unwell, so it's not always possible to determine from that alone just what the problem may be.
A common cause of illness though that is prevalent in garden finches, is Salmonellosis ... caused of course by the same salmonella bacteria that can cause food-poisoning in humans.
If correctly diagnosed early enough, it could possibly be treated with antibiotics by a wildlife-sympathetic vet, but very often by the time the bird is noticed (often seen dosing at or close too a bird table or other feeding station, unable to fly and so easy to catch) the infection is too far advanced for any course of treatment to be successful.
In this case, scrupulous hygiene around the feeders can certainly help prevent this problem arising, but of course in an urban garden setting, all your neighbours need to be equally vigilant in keeping their bird tables clean.
Valley Forge Native Wildlife Refuge
Thanks, and yes we do have neighbours who unfortunately leave out moldy scraps they also have chickens and geese right by the house, and a lot of rats running around. We'll just have to do the best we can!
While salmonella and other food poisoning bacteria are an ever-present danger if garden bird feeding areas are not kept clean, there is a new kid on the block - a parasitic throat infection called trichominiasis, which I think is what Jenny refers to. The monitoring of disease in garden birds carried out by the Garden Bird Health Initiative, of which the RSPB is a member, as well as by government veterinary labs in England, Wales and Scotland have found very few cases of salmonella or e.coli during the past couple of years, while trichomoniasis has been the most prominent cause of death of garden birds, especially during the summer and early autumn. Although it is not possible to definitively diagnose any infection in wild birds without a post mortem on a freshly dead bird, I would say that a sick bird exhibiting certain symptoms at this time of the year is almost certainly suffering from trichomoniasis.
Trichomoniasis is caused by a throat parasite, whose actions progressively block the bird's throat, so that eventually it is not able to swallow its food, and it will die of starvation. While Valleyforge is right about scrupulous hygiene preventing many problems appearing, and I wholeheartedly agree that one should never compromise on hygiene, it is less of a solution when it comes to trichomoniasis. Trichomonas cannot survive outside a bird for longer than an hour or two. Considering that the infection is passed on when a sick bird, unable to swallow, spits out a food particle that is then picked up by another bird feeding close by, you can have the best sterilised feeding station, but as soon as a sick bird turns up and starts regurgitating, the infection will be there. The best way to combat an outbreak is to alter the feeding so that birds do not congregate to feed close together, especially in places frequented by sick birds. In other words, no bird tables, no ground feeding and no food trays of any kind - in extreme situations it may be best to withdraw food altogether for a couple of weeks to force the birds to spread out more. Since the parasite can end up in the water in bird baths, it is also prudent to leave these dry. However, as already mentioned, these actions are only likely to be effective if everyone in the neighbourhood does the same, otherwise the sick birds will still be able to find situations where transmission can occur easily.
It is heartbreaking to watch a sick bird struggle, knowing there is nothing that can be done to help it. Although there are anti-protozoal drugs that can be used to treat a bird in captivity if it can be caught early enough, these drugs, like any other veterinary drug, must never be given to wild birds in uncontrollable situations, such as putting it into the drinking water in the garden. We all know far too well what has happened with bacterial resistance to antibiotics, and this can happen with any drug unless its use is carefully controlled.
I do hope that this horrid disease is not too serious in your neighbourhood, but since we are currently at the height of the 'tricho season', it is worth being vigilant at least for the next month or so in case more sick birds turn up.
Thank you for this reply. My husband and I were just talking about this a few minutes ago as we have found several dead greenfinches in the garden recently and I was aware there was a finch disease around from comments on a bird webcam site. We have not had this disease to contend with before. We are going to stop feeding for a couple of weeks and will try to spread info around the neighbours.
Thank you for your reply. Very well put
The only time I have ever seen this 'horrible' disease at its worst was a couple of years ago at my last property. I made sure that all the bird feeders where cleaned and sterilized form top to bottom. To see birds struggle while trying to swallow theiir food is heart rendering to watch. I will never foget the birds in question.
I just hope that one day as a disease that will run its course through time, and disappear all together so the birds are free of all the stress. Life is stressful enough for birds as it is without additonal complications.
Can I ask is it only a Finch related disease or does it affect any bird (if this question has not been asked already)?
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Nicki C said: Can I ask is it only a Finch related disease or does it affect any bird (if this question has not been asked already)?
Potentially, trichomoniasis can affect any bird species - it typically affects doves and pigeons (where it is also known as 'canker'), and it can also affect birds of prey which target the sick and dying birds. In birds of prey the disease is known as 'frounce'
While greenfinches and chaffinches seem to be the worst affected, it has been seen in many other species.
The RSPB website has some more information on the disease - http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/health/sickbirds/greenfinches.asp
As it mentions on the page, you can help the RSPB and the Garden Bird Health initiative to monitor the spread and intensity of any disease in garden birds by filling out and returning this short form - please return it to wildlife@rspb.org.uk
Many thanks
Help swifts by letting us know what they're up to - fill in the 2010 survey
Hi LRB
Thank you for your interesting reply.
I never knew that different names existed for the same disease. I thought Canker was something else. It is easier to remember the name!
Having problems downloading the short Forrn for some reason? Is there a place on the RSPB site, I can source same Form to send to you - it may work for me that way?
Hi Blackbird - you should be able to find it on the disease help page and download it from there - the link is in my previous reply and you'll find it up on the right hand side
Hope it works!
Thank you for your answer
I have tried to post it on my http link, and it has downloaded. The only prbolem is there appears to be an issue with it not opening on my PC.
I try to open it an it comes up with an icon box stating:
....not a valid Win32 application'
Wonder if it is glitch with me (Vista), or with the RSPB form.
Can you download it easily yourself?