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Hello All,
I would like to bring to everyone's attention an avian disease
affecting finches in the U.S. and ask for your help in monitoring local finch
populations. Mycoplasmal conjunctivitis, although first constrained to
domestic foul, was discovered in the wild finch population around
Washington D.C. in 1994. Over the last 8 years, the bacteria has
spread westward and is now approaching the Rocky Mountains. Symptoms
include red, swollen, watery, or crusty eyes with advance stages leading to
virtual blindness. The Cornell University
Laboratory of Ornithology has founded a House Finch Disease Survey to
help track the disease's progress. Excellent information regarding the
disease and its symptoms can be found at the Lab of O's site: http://birds.cornell.edu/hofi/index.html. Additional
information regarding avian diseases in general can be found
at the National Wildlife Health Center's web
site: http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/
Because we are located towards the leading edge of mycoplasmal conjunctivitis, information from our state is very
important in tracking the disease. I would ask that you pay special
attention to the health of the birds at your feeder as high concentrations of
individuals are more likely to harbor the disease. Please report any birds
showing symptoms to me by responding to this email or via the means listed
below. Also consider adding your knowledge to the Lab of
Ornithology's database by becoming a participant in one of the many citizen
observer research programs run through Cornell.
Thank you,
Adam Kozlowski
Native Species Biologist Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Northern Region 515 East 5300 South, Ogden UT 84055 Office: (801) 476-2740 Cell: (801) 510-2034 email: akozlowski@utah.gov |