Trichomoniasis

A timely reminder to fellow wildlife lovers that it is the time of year when the truly horrible disease Trichomoniasis rears its ugly head. I have had to take the bird feeder down outside the visitor centre to disinfect it and the area around the feeding area to kill off the protozoa that causes the disease. I will leave it about a week before putting it back up to try to get the area fully decontaminated. Tricho affects the throat and airways of birds causing webbing which eventually completely blocks the passage of food and air and the bird starves and/or suffocates to death.

So just to let you know that if you see birds, particularly finches looking fluffed up and very lethargic, unable to swallow and/or panting for breath, carry out the disinfecting procedure I have mentioned and keep an eye on the situation. It is heartbreaking to watch siskin fledglings dying before your eyes, especially because it is our human act of kindness in feeding them that can make this disease more prevalent.

Caroline de Carl