Anyone who has finches in their garden has been issued an urgent warning about a disease that is ripping through wildlife like wildfire this winter.

Households are being urged to take action now to help stop the spread of an aviary illness that appears to disproportionately affect the classic British bird. This bird stays in the UK over winter and can often be seen on bird tables, as well as doves and pigeons.

Ecologists at Arbtech have issued a stark warning to UK households as it’s reported that bird populations, particularly finches, are in drastic decline due to a growing new disease. 

But Trichomonosis (Trichomonas gallinae) is a parasitic disease that impacts a bird's digestive system, particularly affecting finches, doves and pigeons. However, any bird can catch the infection. 

Its devastating impact even pushed greenfinches from a green-listed species straight to the conservation red list by 2021. 

Trichomonosis is transmitted through saliva, meaning infected birds can easily pass it on to others when sharing food and water sources, and dirty feeders can be a hotspot for infection.

Birds infected with ‘trich’ become weak and immobile as the cankers in their throats make swallowing difficult. As a result, they repeatedly chew and attempt to eat but spit or cough up food. 

If other birds are feeding nearby, they may pick up these contaminated pieces and become infected as well. Parent finches can also pass the disease to their young when feeding them, further accelerating its spread within bird populations.

Now, gardeners are urged to help cut the risks by cleaning feeders and bird baths.

It comes just after the RSPB pulled the sale of all flat bird tables and feeders over fears that the flat-surface feeders could be helping to spread the disease.

The charity encourages people to use contained hanging feeders instead of flat bird tables while it carries out a study to determine the risk posed by flat tables.

Good garden hygiene can help, and one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk and help local bird populations is to clean bird feeders and birdbaths regularly. 

Washing feeders with a diluted disinfectant solution or boiling water at least once a week helps kill any lingering parasites. 

Birdbaths should also be cleaned frequently to prevent birds from drinking contaminated water.

Garden hygiene can also help to prevent other prevalent bird diseases like those caused by mites, which can survive on feeders and hop onto visiting birds. 

Annabel Sharpe, resident bird expert at ecology consultancy Arbtech, commented: “Trichomonosis has had a devastating impact on bird populations over the last two decades, and it remains a significant problem today.

“That’s why it’s so important for households to do their part by keeping bird feeders and birdbaths clean.

“So far, there’s no known link between feeders and bird flu – thankfully – as bird flu doesn’t appear to affect songbird populations.

“However, simple steps like regularly washing feeders, rotating feeding spots, and preventing overcrowding can make a huge difference in reducing the spread of other infections, such as trichomonosis, as well as those caused by mites.”