dunnocks getting sick and dying.

[RKB]

Originally Posted by ~T~

I was meaning the OP, they posted about house sparrows dying a month or so back.

Oh gawd, really?

scarymonster: seriously, take your feeders down.

[bigdave60dog]

Sorry, I just could not believe that they had had the same prob twice.
If not the feeders, scary stuff. Think of canaries in mines.
Dave

[scarymonster]

Before everyone gets carried away or presumes my garden is like some kind of bird death zone... I had one sparrow that I found on my window sill that died overnight after I bought it in a few weeks ago. I do not know what was the matter with it. Either it was sick or it had flown into the window and was in shock.

All other birds that I have observed to be sick and have died, being 5 since the snow around Christmas time have been dunnocks. My garden is fairly large, about 1/3 acre cottage garden with trees, shrubs and quite semi wild parts also. We have everything from woodpeckers, green, chaff and gold finches, a flock of long tailed tits and even pheasants visiting daily. Also a large number of blackbirds, robins and the usual tits.

As a precaution I will stop feeding for a while and turn over any feeding areas and let the ground repair itself. However I am not convinced the problem is in my garden, only that there is something that the dunnocks are currently suffering from.

[RKB]

Originally Posted by scarymonster

However I am not convinced the problem is in my garden, only that there is something that the dunnocks are currently suffering from.

But they're highly likely to be picking it up in your garden, as your food is attracting Dunnocks to concentrate together and pass it on, when otherwise they wouldn't.

[scarymonster]

RKB, ok, I'll start the winding down tomorrow for a few weeks, thanks for the advice.

[kestrel76]

Surely this is the same thing that affects Greenfiches. It`s a disease call Trichomonosis. It would appear to be carried by various species including pigeons. The idea therefore of being overly concerned about dirty feeders in this case would be redundant. If the birds are carrying the disease then how can we stop them from doing so?

[RKB]

Originally Posted by kestrel76

Surely this is the same thing that affects Greenfiches. It`s a disease call Trichomonosis. It would appear to be carried by various species including pigeons. The idea therefore of being overly concerned about dirty feeders in this case would be redundant. If the birds are carrying the disease then how can we stop them from doing so?

It might not be trichomonas, as salmonellosis is also very common. But it's not so much the feeders being dirty (though this can be a problem, with direct contamination), it's the contamination of the area all around them due to the droppings and saliva. And, very importantly, it's the fact that healthy birds are being attracted into very close proximity with diseased birds at the feeders.

You can't stop them from carrying it, true, but garden feeders make it very easy for it to be passed on - and that is something that we can do something about.

[Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

There is/was the Garden Bird Health Initiative (easily found by googling) which has a telephone contact number and a reporting form. I don't know if the project is still running though the websites still have details. Worth a try, anyway.

http://www.ufaw.org.uk/documents/GBH...heet_Sep06.pdf

I talked to these people when I saw a sick blue tit, never did find it again! They are very interested in garden bird deaths & will send you info about sending bodies off for analysis.

If you like you can pm me with your details & I'll pass on their e-mail which contains useful info & how to send stuff

[Brocakat]

Originally Posted by kestrel76

Surely this is the same thing that affects Greenfiches. It`s a disease call Trichomonosis. It would appear to be carried by various species including pigeons. The idea therefore of being overly concerned about dirty feeders in this case would be redundant. If the birds are carrying the disease then how can we stop them from doing so?

You having mentioned Greenfinches , I must relate that I haven't seen any Greenfinches in my garden, since last summer and now its a Rare Occurence that I see -a Chaffinch. This is in a countryside district in Lancashire , 8 ~ 10miles north of Preston .

How widespread & virulent is this Disease?

BTW there's been difference n the number of Sparrow , Dunnock, Songbird, Tit, etc.