Chloris chloris – Llinos Werdd – Breeding resident and passage migrant
The 1984-88 map of greenfinches breeding in Pembrokeshire showed that greenfinches occupied 55% of tetrads in the county. The 2003-07 map indicated an increase to 78% of tetrads. Since then, the story is all downhill, as shown here by the results of the Breeding Bird Survey.
The increase between the two atlases may have been fuelled by the increase in feeding birds in gardens leading to better winter survival. However, that same phenomenon may have led to the subsequent decrease as a parasite called Trichomonas gallinae transferred from pigeons, birds of prey, and domestic chickens and turkeys to smaller birds such as finches. The resulting disease, Trichomonosis, spreads rapidly via food and water contaminated by infected individuals – so garden feeders, water for drinking and bathing, anywhere that birds congregate is a potential problem.
Greenfinches are still widespread in Pembrokeshire, but are thin on the ground. Breeding records seem particularly scarce. The map above shows where greenfinches have been recorded in April-July 2011-2020 according to records in BirdTrack. The black squares indicate that the observer recorded definite evidence of breeding – nests, birds carrying food, recently fledged youngsters (being fed), for example.
The easiest way to do this, is for everyone to note where they see greenfinches in April, May, June and July, and add those records to BirdTrack. In BirdTrack you can pinpoint a location on a map or aerial photo. Then when entering details, click on the ‘highest breeding evidence’ box and select the appropriate code. Many thanks to the observers who are already collecting this information.
Greenfinches usually produce a second brood, so there is plenty of ‘season’ left for finding them.
If you really don’t want to use BirdTrack, then there is the WWBIC recording scheme either on-line or via their app (part of iRecord) where you’ll have to state in the comments field what you have seen. If all else fails, you can email me, but remember to include the site name, the site grid reference, and the breeding code.
The map will be updated in early July, though records not submitted through BirdTrack may take longer to incorporate so there will be another update later in the year.
