Things you want to know about GREENFINCHES!

[@AShotOfWildlife]

Thank you for watching this video and taking a look at the comments! If you would like to support me to make even more videos, please consider my Patreon which can be found here> www.patreon.com/ashotofwildlife Cheers.

[@General_Confusion]

About 5 years ago when i lived a little bit South in Mid Suffolk, i had a large outbreak of Trichomoniasis. I kept finding undamaged dead small birds in my garden. Most of the birds were ringed and when i reported the ring numbers on line to the BTO, they contacted me and arranged for postage and packing instructions to send a couple of the bodies to London Zoo for analysis. The advice at the time was to take the water and bird baths away so that the birds would disperse looking for water and any infected birds would just die somewhere else. I investigated what Trichomoniasis was, and it turns out that Pigeon keepers know it as Canker. Anyway, once i got my eye in i started to see birds just like that Green Finch in this video, just sitting about either sleeping in the day or trying to eat but not being able to. There were Green finches, Gold Finches, Chaffinches and even a Robin, i even started to notice a couple of Doves that were looking a bit sorry for themselves. Eventually i found out that this can be treated with a mixture called Colicao Triccox, which is a supplement treatment for Pigeons. Problem was you can't just buy it in this country, but i managed to get a bottle on eBay from Poland. The first birds i managed to capture were a couple of Goldfinch's, i just walked up them and picked them up, unfortunately they were just too weak and by the morning they had died. Then one day i found a young Blackbird sitting on the bench in my shed, again fast asleep. This was infected, but it was much stronger and easier to work with. This Trichomoniasis is like a ball of cheese that sticks to their throats and envelops the tongue, they can breath but not eat, and it's too hard to be able to get out without hurting the bird. Anyway, i put it in a cage and started giving it the Triccox mixed with it's water as the instructions and feeding it with mashed Sunflower seeds and water and poking it down passed the infection with a cocktail stick. After about a week, the bird was still alive but the infection was still the same, so i came up with the idea of putting a single drip of the Triccox neat from the bottle on a cocktail stick, directly on the infection once every morning and massaging the birds throat to spread it about. After a couple of days, the infection turned from a cheesy colour to light brown, and the following day when i massaged it the whole lump just popped out into my hand, it was about an inch long and looked exactly like a squashed cigarette butt. The bird could instantly eat for it's self and after about a week i let it go. I managed to save Two Greenfinches the same way, but Two more Goldfinches i tried it on were just too small and weak, and just died before the Triccox had a chance to work. The next year it seemed to clear up and i didn't see it anymore. I've still got the bottle of Triccox, but it went out of date in 2019. I've since moved to North Suffolk and all the Dozens of Goldfinches i have at my new house seem heathy.

[@joanneglas4851]

Wow, well done for you perseverance in finding a solution and acting. 😊bless you and all your birds in your garden x

[@wetleyrocks3092]

Like joanneglass stated, WOW I've seen the effects of this awful condition (Staffordshire Moorlands). It's truly aweful to see. The greenfinch population 10 years later (yep, TEN YEARS) still hasn't recovered, the goldfinch quickly has though. I'm beginning to think, 'why don't I put Colicao Triccox (super low dose) into the drinking water as a preventitive measure?' Comments appreciated

[@General_Confusion]

@@wetleyrocks3092 I've now got my birdbath with sticks pointing up to stop the pigeons getting in. I put a bit of hosepipe around the top with Terry clips and drilled holes in the pipe and put in about 12 of those 12" long green plant sticks. Seems to work.

[@General_Confusion]

I did try to reply to you, but it seems if you mention a well known internet auction site, the reply wont post. Anyway, the Triccox that i used is available in this country now on that site. I looked at the label on my bottle and it's based on clove oil, so i'm not sure why it wasn't available when i got mine. I never had much luck putting it in the water, they keeled over before it got chance to work, direct application was what worked for me, if you can catch them soon enough.

[@SubyBristow]

Wow, thanks for the great info. I have just started to see Green finches this week. I put food out for the Squirrels and this has attracted Robins and Gfs onto my windowsill. The relief that little bird must have felt , thanks to you.

[@bobbymalta73]

Cheers Mate Thanks For Sharing! 👍

[@AShotOfWildlife]

Thanks for watching!

[@Red19UK]

Fantastic channel, always enjoy your content. cheers

[@Beak_to_lens]

Great video! I love them, lots live in the garden and they love sunflowe:)❤😊

[@ashleyritchie4948]

Great video, had a few last year in my garden, none this year!

[@therealzilch]

Another fascinating report, thanks. My wife and I saw a female greenfinch on our balcony last week, the first one in years. They've become much less common here in Austria as well, along with most other songbirds. Crows and pigeons seem to be doing fine. Cheers from sunny Vienna, Scott

[@bernardshieldstysonfive1009]

Hi Liam brilliant video again fantastic close up of the birds I agree with you about the bird feeders I have two lots so I can keep them clean keep up the great work and videos looking forward to your next one Bernard

[@HelenaMikas]

A great video Liam .Such a shame their numbers are so low in UK now .Feeders are fine but do need daily cleaning and fresh water again clean A contact in Scotland had such issues , traced back to bird table .Very informative as always .Love your filming .Wish you a very happy weekend --)👍👏🏻 Helena

[@NZKiwi87]

I’m in New Zealand and often get a couple in my garden when I throw out seed for sparrows. Lovely birds.

[@jeffreyconrad8125]

I live on the very edge of epping forest but I haven't seen a green finch for 20 years also I used to have spotted flycatchers and thrushes now it's just the normal garden birds and a female blackcap which stays December till early march !

[@LudwigHohlwein1776]

Always a pleasure to see these charming birds. Love this series, Liam. All the best

[@stevenperry7493]

Nice video Liam ,.We have greenfinches regularly in our garden on our feeders all the year round ,it’s always great to hear them more from late March onwards with there call .Great little bird .We live just outside Lowestoft .

[@intercity_trainspotting]

My local population has just come back!

[@Falconer710]

Here in South Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 seen my first one about 3/4 weeks ago

[@lisashapiro4714]

Seriously

[@Falconer710]

@@lisashapiro4714 yes

[@karyne826]

I hope mine does I haven’t seen one for a long time.

[@jokervienna6433]

I grew up and lived in Sweden for some 44 years, and there they where so common that I didn´t really care much about them. Now when I live in Vienna, it is a rare bird and I often search for them. When they start to sing, it is a sure and lovely sign of spring. They often sit quite high and exposed, which is a dangerous thing here - we have falcons that nest here too. Not sure about the english name, but Baumfalke are sneaky and lightning fast.

[@nickwebb9290]

Thanks Liam. Sadly I can’t remember when I last saw a greenfinch….😢

[@celestenova777]

Used to see these lovely little birds alot but now practically never, such a shame. Thanks Liam, great informative video as always.

[@malcolmhill691]

Thanks for another clear and informative film. First class as usual.

[@usha54]

Saw couple of years ago in my garden , I will try to look for them. Thank you for sharing

[@steveblyth2055]

Another great video 👍

[@missapippin9020]

Thank you Liam for another wonderful informative video. I have never seen a green finch.

[@Alan.92n]

Great info as always, Liam. Didn't know much about greenfinches. Glad I saw this review. Sadly, don't see many, most common are robins and sparrows in my area.

[@Calvin.The.Unfindable]

some great information in here, great video. thanks Liam. enjoy the rest of your weekend :)

[@petelumley1578]

Another informative vlog Liam. Thank you. Would consider doing one on the corn crake

[@jmunro-graham1568]

Another good narrative and I always love the nest and egg shots 👍

[@perawatanburungkicau]

Canari bird beautiful...❤

[@johnnyhollis9977]

Green finches disappeared from my garden a couple of years ago but this year at least one pair has been buzzing around and has visited my normally very busy feeding station. i always think they look like they are frowning or annoyed with something ! 😂

[@michaelarchangel1163]

I haven't seen one for along time .Quite often to see them in my mother's back garden when I was a teenager.

[@philiptaylor7902]

Great video Liam. Like a few other posters I have started seeing more greenfinches around in the last year or so, perhaps they are starting to make a comeback. I certainly hope so.

[@senianns9522]

Good info! Thanks! Greetings from Thailand.

[@616Themaster]

In Lincolnshire, they have made a small comeback. Around my area, I hear them nearly all the time.

[@dezzalondon8101]

Great video, thank you for sharing. They are definitely declining in North London, and quite rapidly by the looks of things. A couple of years ago, they were fairly easy to see in Woodberry Down and Finsbury Park, as well as Abney Park. (Regularly saw them during the pandemic years, especially in summer months, when one could always hear that distinctive call. They bred successfully in all those sites). So far this spring, very few sightings except on a couple of occasions at Woodberry Down.

[@bellatiger2329]

@AShotOfWildlife - Please make a video about what good and bad qualities a birdfeeder can have! What should you look for and what to avoid to minimize spreading of sicknesses of predication :D Another video could be about what to fill the feeders with to get the different visitors to your garden! 😁

[@danvenables4935]

Such an attractive UK bird. Had a pair visit my feeders at times along with possibly a juvenile last a while ago. Hope to see them again, but agree feeders must be kept clean to help them avoid this nasty disease. Really enjoy your videos Liam, any chance of putting a Tawny Owl video up sometime? I've found a young family in the woods near me with 4 now juveniles and can spot them with my binoculars high up in the trees but very hard to get a phone camera shot! I saw you did a video on little owls though, they are lovely too and I saw some for the first time at RSPCA St Aidans recently.

[@donnaml8776]

Thanks Liam for translating the measurements. It’s sad that people can unknowingly cause such a painful death to these sweet, beautiful birds. It’s a good reminder to everyone, everywhere to clean out their bird feeders. I don’t think there are green finches here in the US. They are beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[@sieger85]

Saludos, aqui en España hay muchos verderones y están sanos, son la alegría de los parques de las ciudades cantando mucho ❤❤❤

[@jonathanadams7607]

Top man! Thank you!

[@AShotOfWildlife]

Cheers, you're welcome!

[@alihakko2486]

Very nice.

[@dexocube]

Good video. My education continues!

[@brentnearhood8874]

Thanks!

[@AShotOfWildlife]

Cheers, you're welcome!

[@NaturallyCuriousUK]

Very nice. I reckon I spotted a clip from our visit to Sculthorpe Moor in there didn't I? 🙂

[@rod2623]

Thanks Liam!

[@MalcolmTurner-k2k]

Good stuff

[@AmyKingWildlife]

Thanks for the video Liam! There are still a few greenfinches around my neck of the woods, but it's sad to know that the population is declining

[@sarahrochester2561]

Love watching your videos liam I love wildlife I’m based in Norfolk too

[@paulohara1502]

👍👍👍👌🙂

[@AShotOfWildlife]

Thank you!

[@NatureShortsGB]

Nice video. Always hard to find, they are around, but always hang out at the tops of trees where I am.

[@dakkahaddad8102]

❤❤❤

[@anthonyalfredyorke1621]

Thanks for another great show Liam, it's nice to see all these lovely creatures, this is what people need more Liam & less Trump, Biden, Russia & people going mad about asylum seekers. I know all these things are important but it's nice to enjoy the world for a little while. There's enough news to scare everybody to death!!! Thanks again. PEACE and LOVE to EVERYONE ❤❤

[@sam7687-i9b]

My green finches have come back this year with young chicks theres a bunch of about 5 that keep coming along with the regular goldy , bullys and others . I like to watch them fight over their favourite feeder spots . even tho there is enough to go round two feeders in particular seem to be evreybirds favourite 😂

[@cyberlizardcouk]

it seems that while goldfinch numbers have exploded around my patch of the UK, Greenfinches have dropped massively as you have said.

[@hughmacfarlane9662]

Occasionally, will see a rare mutation, when the colours are more yellow , making it similar to a green marked Canary. These are known as a Lutino and are really beautiful. I haven't seen one for years now, perhaps this is down to the reduced number of population.

[@bigblue7091]

Encyclopedia of a Wildlife Channel

[@C-Rex1]

Love your accent!

[@fabshop6359]

Cheers! Enjoyed this. Could not hear the Greenfinch call…until I put my hearing aids in, it’s the pitch, too high for my ears. 😂👍

[@billcartwright9581]

I live in mid bedfordshire and had what I think were green finches on the grass there was 7 of them

[@paulwarner5674]

Beautiful markings. What caused the decline was it just disease or Do they have a natural predator. ?

[@AShotOfWildlife]

They do have a few predators but nothing too much has changed in that aspect. It is probably mainly down to the virus they are susceptible to.

[@ReggieChump]

👍

[@PaIaeoCIive1684]

Greenfinches are definitely declining. As a boy in the 70s we had them on the garden feeders a few times each year. For the last few years only a few seen - such as the three colourful males by the Thames last Spring were the first seen in a couple of years. I'm surprised you say there are as many as 3.4 million as, like bullfinches and siskins, we rarely see many here. Loads of pretty Goldfinches, on the other hand. Are these not affected by the parasite at bird feeders also?

[@tonysheerness2427]

I have learned a lot from your videos. However I would like know how do burrowing animals survive flooding? I have a field that is full of rabbits but over the winter some parts are water logged for a considerable amount of time, do they drown or do they go into some sort of hibernation state to survive the water logging?

[@jillatherton4660]

😄👍

[@clivesmith6164]

Not seen one for years

[@JustMarilynOfficial]

I see some in my local park…

[@pauldurkee4764]

Its stated that the clutch size can be 3 to 9 eggs, I would say that's incorrect. Most finches lay 4 to 6 eggs.

[@peternicholls6532]

I had a male & female greenfinch come to my feeder the other day which was a nice surprise!... they were happily eating sunflower hearts for a good three minutes, I'm hoping they come regularly... I'm also watching great tits bringing nesting material to my bird box ( 3rd time had them nesting ) and feeding a robin live mealworms ( hoping to get feeding out of my hand eventually ) :)

[@angelataylor4540]

I presume that what the green finches get is similar to tonsillitis in humans unable to swallow without real pain no Dr's and antibiotics for the green finches 😢 Note to self keep your feeder clean !

[@pobinr]

Leave out the music. Just need bird sound & dialogue

[@lindaprentice2452]

👍