Hi....some weeks ago we read in one of our local papers that Finches of all kinds were in danger, they were catching a horrible desease. We noticed at the time we had'nt seen any Green or Chaffinches......l just want to say we now have about 10 CHAFFINCES (or more) male and female.
We live near the Forrest of Dean and l think they had a big problem there.
Is it enough that l have put it on this forum?? do rspb members read this posts?? l just thought it was important to tell someone:o))
Woody:o)
Woody said: Hi....some weeks ago we read in one of our local papers that Finches of all kinds were in danger, they were catching a horrible desease. We noticed at the time we had'nt seen any Green or Chaffinches......l just want to say we now have about 10 CHAFFINCES (or more) male and female. We live near the Forrest of Dean and l think they had a big problem there. Is it enough that l have put it on this forum?? do rspb members read this posts?? l just thought it was important to tell someone:o)) Woody:o)
Hi Woody,
there is a number of diseases that affect various species of finches, was the article in the paper referring to Trichomoniasis!
Have you seen 10 sick Chaffinches?
This particular disease has been around for a number of years and the RSPB are aware of it!
The link below will direct you to thier site regarding Trichomoniasis.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/health/sickbirds/greenfinches.asp
There is a link at the top righthandside were you can report sightings of birds with this disease.
Regards Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
Hi,
If it is trichonomasis, I started a thread, it has description on symptoms, what to do in your garden if you see sick birds and how to report it (should be in the "all creature section" and called sth like trichonomasis killing the greenfinch).
There is another disease as well, I observed it quite often in the chaffinches in my garden: Papilloma virus
Here is a website: http://btoringing.blogspot.com/2009/03/papilloma-in-chaffinches-not-for-faint.html
It has photographs of an infected female chaffinch (growth on their feet), which may help you identify whether your chaffinches suffer from this. You can find further information online, although, not a lot is available.
In both case, it is my understanding that there is no cure for wild birds in our garden, very good hygiene is necessary.
Hope that help.
Hello Woody - and thank you Isabel and Buzzard for the information about trichomoniasis.
I have my fingers crossed that these 10 chaffinches are healthy and that the other finches have just been on a short 'holiday' and will gradually return. There is always concern during late summer, into autumn, at the lack of birds in gardens and elsewhere but this is perfectly natural behaviour for them - we just really miss them. This year, in particular there has been a bumper crop of natural food so they have been less dependent, for longer, on the food we supply. They will be back, and it looks like the chaffinches have got a head start on the rest of them. It is possible that some or all of these chaffinches are winter visitors as many finches come from more northern and eastern countries to spend the winter with us. Others will just be passing through, heading even further south, so don't worry too much if these ones don't stay around - it will be very nice if they do though.
I do hope all is well
Watch out for swifts
Hello....so sorry for delay in replying to your posts, been away.
Thank you all for your replies:o))
As far as l can tell these chaffinches are healthy birds, its just so good to see then back having been away for a few months and know . When we read the article we were obviously concerned. We also saw a simular article last yr. Not sure what the desease is called by l know its a slow horrible death for the birds.
We do get quite a variety of birds in our garden, very lucky:o))