Residents and visitors to the province are being asked to refrain from feeding birds during the summer months to prevent frounce – a sickness caused by the spread of the microscopic parasite Trichomonas gallinae that is easily spread among bird populations.

Frounce interferes with a bird’s ability to eat and swallow.

Affected birds are weak, lose weight, and may have food material stuck to the feathers around the face. The parasite spreads in bird droppings, or in birdseed regurgitated by sick birds, and accumulates wherever birds are feeding.

Testing at the Canadian Wildlife Health Co-operative laboratory has confirmed the presence of frounce in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Department of Fisheries and Land Resources expects to see sick and dying songbirds throughout Newfoundland and Labrador for the fifth consecutive year in 2020.

The parasite often contaminates bird feeders, leading to rapid transmission of frounce. To support healthy bird populations residents are encouraged to take down, empty, scrub and disinfect bird feeders with a 10 per cent bleach solution. Residents can replace bird feeders after the first fall frost when the risk of transmission is diminished. The public are reminded there is an abundance of natural food and water available to birds during the spring and summer months.

More information on Avian Trichomoniasis, including a video showing clinical signs of Trichomoniasis in songbirds, is available from the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative.

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Media contact
Craig Renouf
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2923, 640-6922
craigrenouf@gov.nl.ca