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Frounce
in Birds of Prey
____________________________________________________
Posted: 25th April 2007
Hawk suffering with 'frounce'
- Photo: Andy Meads |
Over the period of a year we handle a high number of pigeons and doves that are brought to us suffering from
'canker' (Trichomoniasis) but on occasion we see wild birds of prey suffering from the equivelant - known as 'frounce'.
Recently there had been reports of two seperate large birds of prey, with anklets and
jesses (thin straps made from leather, used to tether a hawk or falcon in
falconry), flying free in two different areas of Northants. We identified
both birds as American Redtail Hawks that had either escaped or been released from captivity.
We'd received several reports that the birds were hunting and surviving quite well, but sadly we had a call on April 9th from a lady asking for help as one of the Redtails was just sitting on her lawn with its head under its wing. When we got to the bird we found it was a female, and was excessively light. It had very little movement and was suffering from advanced stages of frounce. The bird had been living off the pigeon and dove population in the area and had eaten infected birds. This particular Redtail died as the disease could not be treated.
To make matters worse we received a call from a resident in Wellingborough, Northants, saying he had caught a bird with anklets and fitted ring which he thought was perhaps a buzzard. It turned out this bird was the other redtail, and it too was suffering from frounce, picked up in an entirely different area. The bird is at present being given medication twice daily, and being hydrated by crop tube every hour. The process of recovery, if possible, will be quite long.
There has been an increase in the number of cases of canker in the UK, which is having a serious impact on species such as greenfinch, house sparrow and chaffinch. We feel it's important that anyone flying birds of prey for hunting are aware of the potential risks.
Frounce is a contagious yeast infection of the digestive tract. It's caused by a tiny bug (protozoan) called Trichomonas which is often found in the crops (a pouch in the gullet where food is stored for digestion) of pigeons.
The initial signs in a bird suffering from frounce will be loss of appetite, possible dribbling, lethargy, weight loss and
white spots or a cheesy substance inside the beak. As the disease progresses the bird will be unable to swallow and will regurgitate and flick its food. In more advanced stages the bird will show signs of laboured breathing. If untreated the affected birds will certainly die so keepers should be vigilant and refer any similar symptoms to an experienced Vet for immediate advice and treatment.
Andrew Meads - Safewings
UK Safari News
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