Food and water stations for wild birds are contributing to spread of deadly diseases, study finds
Feeding stations providing food and water for wild birds are contributing to the spread of disease-causing parasites among farmland birds, researchers have said, with birds three times more likely to catch a parasite from these resources.
A recent study has found that feeding and water stations for wild birds are contributing to the spread of a deadly disease-causing parasite among farmland birds, with birds three times more likely to contract the parasite from these resources. Led by Dr. Rebecca Thomas, the research, conducted as part of her Ph.D. at the University of Leeds, revealed that the Trichomonas gallinae parasite is present in 79% of columbids, 36% of non-columbids, and 39% of shared environmental resources.
The study, published in the journal Molecular Ecology, highlights the importance of managing supplementary feeding resources to prevent the transmission of this virulent strain of the parasite, which has been linked to mortalities and population declines in UK greenfinch populations.
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