Dead finches

E39MSport

Evening all and hello again.

I have an observation that I'd like your input on.

Affer moving house to a new place nestled in farmed fields, I was lucky enough to observe much wildlfie including flocks of Gold Finches over the winter. They would comb the fields morning to evening and roost in my trees.

Now, the fields are since ploughed and sown. I no longer see the finches. Of course I expect them to start going about their individual Spring routine. But I am finding them dead adound the field and on my property. Also finding dead corvids lying on the field.

Coinicdentally, I observed tbat part of the same farm close to me and on the periphery was not ploughed but covered in some light grey powdery substance.

Am I clutching at straws to think that there is a link ?

Thanks.
E39

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

E39MSport wrote: »

Evening all and hello again.

I have an observation that I'd like your input on.

Affer moving house to a new place nestled in farmed fields, I was lucky enough to observe much wildlfie including flocks of Gold Finches over the winter. They would comb the fields morning to evening and roost in my trees.

Now, the fields are since ploughed and sown. I no longer see the finches. Of course I expect them to start going about their individual Spring routine. But I am finding them dead adound the field and on my property. Also finding dead corvids lying on the field.

Coinicdentally, I observed tbat part of the same farm close to me and on the periphery was not ploughed but covered in some light grey powdery substance.

Am I clutching at straws to think that there is a link ?

Thanks.
E39

Contact the NPWS and local council as soon as possible. Bag and freeze a bird or two, as they may wish to examine them. This could be more serious than dead birds.

Wexmoth

Makayla Tangy Bowler wrote: »

Contact the NPWS and local council as soon as possible. Bag and freeze a bird or two, as they may wish to examine them. This could be more serious than dead birds.

Please contact the NPWS at nature.conservation@chg.gov.ie stating where you are and providing a phone number.

IrishHomer

I think dept of Ag need to be contacted, there is an alert for Avian influenza and you shouldn’t handle dead birds leave it to the professionals

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

IrishHomer wrote: »

I think dept of Ag need to be contacted, there is an alert for Avian influenza and you shouldn’t handle dead birds leave it to the professionals

Doesn't sound like avian flu. It sounds like poisoning.

OpenYourEyes

It certainly sounds sinister and doesn't sound like Avian Flu at all. To reiterate what others have said contact NPWS as soon as possible, don't touch anything with your hands but do bag and seal a few birds if you can, and take pictures too.

E39MSport

Thanks all. I'll let you know. My dog got hold of one and I struggled to get her to release, she seems fine.

Birdnuts

E39MSport wrote: »

Thanks all. I'll let you know. My dog got hold of one and I struggled to get her to release, she seems fine.

If you suspect pesticides are being misused you could also contact the PCS(Pesticide Control Surface) who will investigate this incident for you, they have many powers of inspection and prosecution - they are a branch of the DAFM

http://www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie/

ganmo

E39MSport wrote: »

Coinicdentally, I observed tbat part of the same farm close to me and on the periphery was not ploughed but covered in some light grey powdery substance.

Am I clutching at straws to think that there is a link ?

Thanks.
E39

The grey powder is probably lime

Odelay

What part of the country are you in?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Odelay wrote: »

What part of the country are you in?

Actually, I'd advise against saying where it is until NWPS et al investigate.

Odelay

Makayla Tangy Bowler wrote: »

Actually, I'd advise against saying where it is until NWPS et al investigate.

Only asking as I see a similar issue in another thread....if they are both in the same part of the country this is quite worrying.,.

Zoo4m8

ganmo wrote: »

The grey powder is probably lime

Exactly...

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

ganmo wrote: »

The grey powder is probably lime

I assumed that but it doesn't change the fact of so many dead birds.

cd07

I've noticed in the past few days a lot of ill looking redpoll greenfinches and chaffinches around the feeder. I've also found some dead ones too

Lepidoptera

About two weeks ago I started having finches die in my garden. I have lots of feeders year round and have had massive amounts of activity this month during the snow/bad weather (as in 80+ goldfinch, 75+ starlings, various chaffinch/greenfinch/tits/redpoll/sparrows/blackbirds etc). After the second snow, I started finding dead or sick finches (mostly goldfinch but increasingly chaffinch and redpoll). The sick birds were all fluffed up and having trouble flying much, spending a lot of time just sitting on the ground looking disheveled.

I clean and move my feeders regularly, but obviously during the snow there was far heavier use of the feeders than normal. I was/am worried about an outbreak of trichomoniasis, so I took down my feeders and sterilized them as well as the bird baths. I feel terrible as I know lots of birds are nesting and have come to rely on a regular food source here after years of regular feeding, but I was finding 2-3 dead finches a day for the first few days and the BirdWatch Ireland page recommended stopping feeding for two weeks. I would like to put out feeders again but if there is disease spreading, I don't want to make the problem worse.

No dead corvids, so I doubt it's the same issue as the OP, but it has been pretty terrible to see

OpenYourEyes

Lepidoptera wrote: »

About two weeks ago I started having finches die in my garden. I have lots of feeders year round and have had massive amounts of activity this month during the snow/bad weather (as in 80+ goldfinch, 75+ starlings, various chaffinch/greenfinch/tits/redpoll/sparrows/blackbirds etc). After the second snow, I started finding dead or sick finches (mostly goldfinch but increasingly chaffinch and redpoll). The sick birds were all fluffed up and having trouble flying much, spending a lot of time just sitting on the ground looking disheveled.

I clean and move my feeders regularly, but obviously during the snow there was far heavier use of the feeders than normal. I was/am worried about an outbreak of trichomoniasis, so I took down my feeders and sterilized them as well as the bird baths. I feel terrible as I know lots of birds are nesting and have come to rely on a regular food source here after years of regular feeding, but I was finding 2-3 dead finches a day for the first few days and the BirdWatch Ireland page recommended stopping feeding for two weeks. I would like to put out feeders again but if there is disease spreading, I don't want to make the problem worse.

No dead corvids, so I doubt it's the same issue as the OP, but it has been pretty terrible to see

Terrible to see, but you've done the right thing!

Dog walker 1234

Does anyone have an update? I have noticed that there are fewer garden birds about than other years, despite leaving out food. Anyone else notice the same?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Dog walker 1234 wrote: »

Does anyone have an update? I have noticed that there are fewer garden birds about than other years, despite leaving out food. Anyone else notice the same?

No, quite the opposite. The garden is alive with birds this year.