Sick Greenfinch
I found this sick female Greenfinch in the garden this morning. Most likely a case of salmonella- the first one I've seen since the end of winter. We managed to catch her and place her among the shrubs where she was away from the feeding stations and had a bit of cover, but she didn't stay there long; she flew out and landed on next door's shed roof where she promptly put her head under her wing. She stayed there for about half an hour.
She is currently sat directly below one of the hanging feeders near the kitchen door. I never know what to do when this happens ... Do I hope she flies away so I can abdicate all responsibility? Do I leave it to nature or do 'we' end her life (which clearly isn't going to last much longer)? The last one isn't something I can do, personally, so I'd have to hand that one over to Birdman.
She is currently sat directly below one of the hanging feeders near the kitchen door. I never know what to do when this happens ... Do I hope she flies away so I can abdicate all responsibility? Do I leave it to nature or do 'we' end her life (which clearly isn't going to last much longer)? The last one isn't something I can do, personally, so I'd have to hand that one over to Birdman.
Labels: Greenfinch
posted by The Bird Woman at 9:23 AM
5 Comments:
Hello "like minded soul"
I do sympathise with you. It is always so heartbreaking to see sick birds in the garden. It doesn't matter how clean we keep our feeders if our neighbours don't do likewise we still see these cases. I tend to let nature take its course. There is no way I could put one out of its misery. I hope it does not last too long, both for the finch's sake and yours.
Oh no Emma, I was only thinking to myself today thank god there are lots of healthy greenfinches and chaffinches here, and no sign of that awful illness. It appears to be when we have wet weather I think, seems to spread through the flocks very quickly. Thankfully it's been so very dry of late.
I can't end their lives either but I always put mine in a box with food and water in the shed, so at least they are away from the others and cant contaminate any other food. They normally die within a few hours. Such a horrible thing, I've nobody to dispatch them though, and no way could I do it. Hope you don't get anymore.
Jan
Hi Janice,
This was the last I saw of her. When I looked again she was nowhere to be seen. I looked all around the borders and behind the shrubs, but nothing. It's only the second one we've been able to catch - the first one, as you may remember, died in my hand - I had a box ready (as I knew that's what you'd done) but he didn't last long enough to get in there. I suppose the stress of me picking him up finished him off a bit quicker.
Glad you're free of it at the moment - hope it continues.
Hi
I had several sick birds over the winter last year.
If I can catch them I take them to my local wildlife hospital where they are given an antibiotic and have a chance to make a full recovery.
good luck
Hi everyone,
Just managed to pick up a greenfinch which had just fallen from a tree I presume, as broken branches were all around him/her.
I've gave the greenfinch some water, and put it in an air ventilated box.
I'm going to phone RSPCA for further advice, hopefully to follow through with an antibiotic to give it a better chance to make a full recovery.
warmth & light for greenfinch
x
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