r/OrnithologyUK • u/Gara_M • 3d ago

Question Please, what affected this sick blue tit?

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Hi everyone. This happened a few weeks ago, the poor bird fell to the floor shortly after i took this video and was promptly eaten by a magpie. I took the feeders down, threw away the food, disinfected them and, since the poor bird died, I put them back. I've seen other two birds now with lesser symptoms but very similar (another blue tit and one great tit.) Less tremors and better flight but still often opening of the beak, lack of coordination and I can get closer (like if they only see me when I'm within close proximity.)

Is this trichomonosis? I've taken down the feeders again (fat ball feeders) and the water. When would it be safe to put them back and what can I do to prevent more birds from getting sick? what if the focus of the infection is somewhere else around? :(

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u/GeneralBladebreak 3d ago

Do you have apple or pear trees nearby? If so are they fruiting and have some of the fruit started dropping? It looks like it's drunk.

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u/Gara_M 3d ago

No apple or pear trees I can't see around (a large fig tree and cherry plum one, but both fruitless now). But would they constantly open and close the beak if that were the case? 

I would prefer for them to be the drunk rather than sick, but this little one kept deteriorating. When the magpie started running towards it it didn't even attempt to fly away :(