Re: Sick House Finches

[BirderB at aol dot com]

Brenda:
 
There are two typical diseases that affect House Finches and some other  
birds that are often seen at backyard feeders.  These diseases are avian  
conjunctivitis and avian pox.  
Birds with avian conjunctivitis often have red, swollen, watery, or crusty  
eyes; in extreme cases the eyes are so swollen or crusted over that the birds  
are virtually blind.   Avian pox is characterized by wart-like  growths on the 
featherless areas of the  body such as around the eye, the base of the beak, 
and on the legs and  feet.  Avian pox  can be mistaken for conjunctivitis when 
the eyes are affected. "Growths" on the  eye are typically from avian pox.  
 
Currently there is a House Finch Disease Survey that is being  conducted by 
Cornell.  They would be very interested in your  observations.  You can find 
the survey by going to the Cornell Ornithology  Lab link at  Survey 
_http://www.birds.cornell.edu/hofi/_ (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/hofi/) .
 
I recommend cleaning your feeders with a 1:9 ratio of bleach to water  
monthly or at least quarterly.  Let the feeder air dry thoroughly before  refilling. 
 Clean up fallen seed from under the feeders periodically, so  that it 
doesn't mold (if ground feeding birds are not eating it, as it  falls).  When 
purchasing feeders, select models that lend themselves to  easy cleaning.  Models 
that are capable of being taken apart with  connecting screws, etc., are good 
choices or feeders that can be opened  sufficiently to clean with a brush, using 
the bleach/water solution.  
 
Enjoy the birds.
 
Regards,
 
Bill  Fenimore




_______________________________________________

"Utah Birds" web site: http://www.utahbirds.org
     BirdTalk:
To subscribe, e-mail:  birdtalk-subscribe@utahbirds.org
To unsubscribe, e-mail:  birdtalk-unsubscribe@utahbirds.org
To send a message, e-mail:  birdtalk@utahbirds.org
_________________________________________________