Chaffinches acting a bit strange

Pretzill

I don't know if this is usual behaviour but in the last couple of weeks I've noticed young chaffinches who seem to be acting a bit dopey (for want of a better word) sleepy and not afraid at all if we approach.

Examples: There was a male one last week who spent two days napping on a small tree beside the feeder he would only move away if other birds started hasselling him and then he'd just walk around the garden, flying rarely. Same thing today with what looks like a juvenile female just sitting on the ground and letting you walk right up to her, she may move but only flutter a few feet away. Is there a thing where chaffinches may fledge a little early and don't know the ways of the world yet? These little things are just sitting targets, really.

magicbastarder

is it just the fledglings? one of the symptoms of trichomonosis is lethargy:
https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/gbw/gardens-wildlife/garden-birds/disease/trichomonosis

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

As you can distinguish male and female, they are unlikely to be juveniles. Sounds like an illness, as Magicblaster says.

Pretzill

I really hope it isn't this but it sounds similar - fluffed up feathers, (made me think they were juvenile) Will have a major clean out with the feeders we don't normally feed this time of the year and I kept it up because of the cold start to summer this year.

I noticed greenfinches a few weeks ago, first time this year, so there could be an outbreak. Chaffinches are by far our most widespread species - so it would probably follow they would be noticeably affected. Will keep an eye out.

Pretzill

I think it might be good news? I saw the little female this morning and she was begging for food and being fed so that one is a juvenile - (actually could be male or female but has the less colourful plumage) the other one who was definitely an adult male (I took a couple of photo's of him at the time - may well be sick or could have been injured - I don't know why but I find the photo of him so sad to look at )

I'm contemplating removing the feeders for the rest of the summer? They are regularly cleaned. There would be plenty of food about now, wouldn't there?

Thanks both!

New Home

I wouldn't remove the feeders, TBH. They've come to rely on them, now, and you'd make their lives more difficult.

Pretzill

New Home wrote: »

I wouldn't remove the feeders, TBH. They've come to rely on them, now, and you'd make their lives more difficult.

I'm not sure if that's altogether true - I've been feeding birds for more than twenty years and even when feeders are full in summer they tend to be ignored, however this year is different there have been a lot of chicks and they do seem to have become reliant on the feeders - so yep you're probably right. I'll just clean as usual and refill. My fear is if there is something wrong with the food, or spreading through the feeders from bird to bird - they'd be better off without that. But I'll keep an eye them.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Pretzill wrote: »

I'm not sure if that's altogether true - I've been feeding birds for more than twenty years and even when feeders are full in summer they tend to be ignored, however this year is different there have been a lot of chicks and they do seem to have become reliant on the feeders - so yep you're probably right. I'll just clean as usual and refill. My fear is if there is something wrong with the food, or spreading through the feeders from bird to bird - they'd be better off without that. But I'll keep an eye them.

I wouldn't panic, as you have no evidence of any actual disease spread just yet. As applies all year round, feeders should be cleaned and disinfected regularly any way.

Evidence shows summer feeding greatly improves breeding success.