Greenfinch

A few years ago, before Covid hit human kind, the local greenfinch population suffered a major decline from avian trichomonosis. A common disease amongst pigeons and doves it appeared to have crossed species to affect finches as well.  

Pigeons and doves may have been  the main carriers of the disease originally, which is a protozoan parasite infection.   Researchers suggest that the cause of infection is most likely to be through birds feeding one another during the breeding season, or through food or drinking water contaminated with saliva.

For several years from 2019 onwards we didn't see any greenfinches locally.  They appear to have bounced back this year and our feeders are being visited by as many green finches as gold finches at the moment.  Needless to say, I am trying to make sure that I clean the feeders regularly to try to prevent any potential problems.