A sanctuary has issued a warning as it deals with a disease in garden birds that is “spreading like wildfire” in Barrow.
Canker “spreads like wildfire in damp conditions, particularly through their drinking water and leftover seeds at feeders”, Bardsea Bird Sanctuary in Ulverston said.
Also known as trichomonosis, the disease causes lesions in the throat of the infected bird, which makes it progressively harder for it to swallow its food. Affected birds may also regurgitate food, have difficulty swallowing and show laboured breathing, as well as general illness symptoms such as lethargy.
The disease is specific to birds and can not pass on to humans.
A statement from Bardsea Animal Sanctuary said: “Canker is affecting garden birds in Barrow. Another was brought in today. Birds are moulting – this saps a lot of energy and they very easily succumb to diseases which spread like wildfire in damp conditions, particularly through their drinking water and leftover seeds at feeders, so keep these well-scrubbed and add 10mil per litre of apple cider vinegar to kill off this killer protozoa, thereby preventing the spread of this deadly disease otherwise every bird drinking infected water will get sick.
“Prevention is better than cure; if you feed garden birds keep your feeders scrubbed and dry and add 10ml per litre of apple cider vinegar to drinking water. Our wildlife is in decline but we’ll carry on doing our best to keep saving these precious lives.”
Another symptom to look out for is swelling in the throat area of an infected bird.
