Something maybe people should be aware of has been flagged up in the Mail today for the US and UK. Might make a nice little blog. Apparently we should be really proud of ourselves that we bother to go out and buy feeders to help the bird populations but unfortunately we are not cleaning them regularly enough and bird baths are becoming infected also, it is suggested once a fortnight with water and weak bleach. There are signs now that species can dwindle due to two diseases that can be picked up from dirty feeders. It is estimated 500,000 greenfinches died as a result of trichomoniasis in the UK in 2007 according to BTO (one in 5 since 2005)and in the US dirty bird feeders are fuelling an epidemic of an infectious eye disease called mycoplasmal conjunctivitis. It has wiped out 60 per cent of house finches in the Eastern US. Bird feeders can also house salmonella and ecoli. Don't scrap the feeders as they save thousands of birds lives but remove old food and clean regularly is the advice. Finches showing symptoms of 'trich' will have fluffed up plumage so stop feeding for a couple of weeks.
Dave
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