Chloris chloris

A day for seeing birds which this winter have been fairly rare at the feeders.  In a usual winter we have good numbers of Greenfinch and Siskin.  This winter they have been notably by their absence, then within the last few days both species are back.

I have theories for both going missing one one worrying and one not.  Starting with the Siskin, I think our resident population moves away in winter and is replaced by birds from further north.  This winter has been so mild I wonder if the northern birds haven't moved as far south.

Greenfinch are much more concerning.  Over the last 10 -15 years there has been a huge crash in numbers.  Using 2016 as a base line and giving it a value of 100 in 2005 the value was around 300.  Today it is in the region of 50.

One of the reasons for the crash could be the infection Trichosmonois gallinea.  This is an infection of gullet by a protozoan, as the name suggests originally identified in pigeons/doves.  Symptoms of the disease are lethargy, being fluffed up, laboured breathing and difficulty in swallowing.  In really bad cases the feathers round the beak may be wet from the bird dribbling also there may be regurgitated food which the bird hasn't swallowed.