Blogs

I've just seen a Chaffinch in my garden with badly deformed feet. They look very large and seem to be causing some discomfort. Does anyone know of a disease that can cause this in Chaffinches and could it be passed on to other species?

Loads of questions. Here's the first. Blackbirds. Several have arrived to feed demonstrating a withered claw. Is it due to the very cold nights? Two didn't survive, two are left, a male and a female. Have they any chance? they reach the oats but seem to have difficulty getting to the water (in...

When we first put out feeders it took some time before we had regular feeders now our garden has lots of visitors including woodpecker I have a poor photo of a pheasant on a feeder, as many as 30+ goldfinches in the winter. We have a couple of window feeders on the kitchen window. Now I have a problem...

Over the last couple of years we have noticed the occasional Great Tit with lumps that look a like peanuts over its body. Last night there was one in the garden that was so hampered by these lumps it could not fly. It was eating well and looked very plump but was very subdued and could be approached...

Disease spread throughout the country This week a press release went out highlighting the impact that Trichomonosis has had on greenfinch and chaffinch numbers. This received a lot of media interest and lead to a massive surge in disease reports. A new disease page is up and running and people can be...

Just a few points to clarify here. We understand that this disease is horrific to witness and that people want to do all they can to help. However some actions, which even with the best intentions, are going to do more harm than good. You should never put any form of medicine into bird baths. Trichomonosis...

Unfortunately, a parasite called trichomoniasis has affected some of the birds at the Westonbirt Arboretum feeding station . Following our advice, the Arboretum has removed all food from the feeding area for October and November, to try and prevent the spread of the parasite. This has led us to close...

Cranes The Crane project has generated a few queries. It involves taking chicks from Germany and eventually releasing them in Somerset. There have been some concerns about resources being diverted to a bird which is already breeding in the UK but it is also a flagship species for wider wetland conservation...