Conservation: Many American goldfinches and purple finches have been found to be infected with the parasite 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘦, also known as “frounce”. Frounce causes damage to the tissues of the mouth making it hard to feed and drink. Infected birds are often underweight and drool, regurgitate food, have difficulty breathing and may have a swollen neck. First observed in England, frounce has been responsible for the drastic decline in many bird species including greenfinches and chaffinches. Between 2016 and 2017, the spread of frounce was so prolific in Newfoundland that Environment Canada recommended taking down feeders altogether. Because this parasite is transmissible through bodily fluids such as saliva, regurgitated food and feces, cleaning bird feeders and bird baths along with replacing birdseed frequently can help reduce the spread and protect local birds.
Sources:
"For the 2nd Summer in a Row, Frounce is Killing Songbirds." Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 31 July 2017, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/frounce-birds-sick-1.4228776. Accessed 4 Jan. 2022. "Trichomonosis." Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, www.cwhc-rcsf.ca/docs/fact_sheets/Trich_Factsheet_EN.pdf. Accessed 4 Jan. 2022. |