Further to previous discussion on disease incidence an up to date report has been released.
The garden is still seeing disease with Chaffinch and for the first time a diseased Bullfinch has been recorded. I would ask that anybody noticing disease please record it.
Whilst specifically I mention bird species the initiative is aimed at mammals and amphibians.
Have you noticed a drop off in bird numbers since you have seen the disease. I have not noticed anything here, disease wise, other than a chaffinch with foot deformities, which is probably chaffinch viral papilloma. This is said to be uncomfortable but not fatal, and the bird affected looks healthy in every other way. There has been a noticeable drop off in goldfinch and greenfinch numbers at our feeders, with only 3 - 5 birds present occasionally and visits being less frequent than they were. The birds that do come appear healthy. Greenfinch numbers have been low all winter with 17 being the highest count (10 years ago we got up to 60 at times). Goldfinch numbers were higher but have now also tailed off.
Chaffinch numbers have also tailed off but up to 10 birds can still be present at any time. These birds all appear healthy. Bullfinch and brambling have only been occasional visitors all winter, so I can't say they have stopped coming. The siskins that come all appear healthy as well. Other bird species that visit, such as thrushes, tits and pigeons, appear healthy. I do suspect that the lack of birds visiting is probably down to the mild weather meaning there is more natural food available and would also expect that birds that were ill would be more likely to visit garden feeders, where feeding requires less effort. Another possible reason for the drop off in numbers is other people putting feeders out. House sparrows were visiting regularly but these are now visiting a garden nearer to the colony.
Over the past ten years goldfinch numbers have increased greatly at our feeders overtaking greenfinch as the most numerous visitor to our feeders at any one time. Numbers peaked this winter with 65 on November 18th, This was our highest ever count. It's only in the last few weeks numbers of goldfinch have decreased.
It's difficult for me to judge if collared doves have decreased locally. We used to have a roost at the front of the house that attracted around 40 - 50 birds. During the day we would only see 6 - 8 birds at the most. The other birds flew in at dusk, and daytime sightings in the local area never reflected the number of birds in the roost. Since most of the trees were cut down where they roosted we only ever see 2 - 4 birds. If we find another roost locally maybe there will be a similar pattern in that area.
Perhaps I confused you, sorry. I am talking nationally here not locally. The "garden" in the Wildlife Health initiative is relative to all gardens but gardens nationally and can act as a red herring. If you look at the recorded incidence through the BTO figures nationally, through garden bird figures, it may give you a better understanding of the relationship of garden and national.
If you have no disease to report that is great what I would like to do is highlight the issue to those others who feed birds that may not even be aware of the several diseases that can be found in birds. Knowing what to look for is key to a better understanding of the disease(s) and it's effects. Hopefully those interested can pass those findings on to the BTO to the easy recording facilities I linked to at the top of the page.
-- Edited by Ste Rush on Thursday 11th of February 2016 08:22:47 PM
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