Do other birds get this type of infection? I saw a Canada goose over the
winter that had a red and irritated eye but when he turned, I could see that
the other eye was fine.
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From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
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Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 11:27 PM
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Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] Finch eye infections
Bruce,
I live in Cleveland Heights, where there are plenty of House Finches.
I've had several over the last 2-3 years with conjunctivitis but I've
never seen the goldfinches infected. Last year there were several
individuals, this year only one or two -- but only early in the season.
Recent birds have all been healthy. I do report my observations to
Cornell with my Feederwatch counts. The maps on the Cornell site track
its movements and frequency.
Wendy Donkin
Bruce Lombardo wrote:
> <pre wrap>Hi all,
>
> I put a posting on the OOS forum a while back about eye infections in
> house, purple and gold finches, but haven't received any responses.
> Have any of you noticed finches at your feeders with swollen eyes. The
> disease is called "House Finch Conjuctivitis" and can render a finch
> virtually blind. It is apparently quite contagious. It has been
> documented in many house finches and goldfinches, and a few purple
> finches.
>
> I first noticed it two weeks ago at my feeders. I saw a purple finch
> that appeared to be blind in one eye. I live in a forest, so I have
> never had house finches at my feeders. Then I saw two goldfinches the
> next day who were so blind in both eyes that I could walk right up to
> them at the feeders when I went to refill them. They seemed to be
> operating mostly by hearing where the other finches were and flying
> almost blindly in that direction to feed and roost. I feared
> infectious conjunctivitis and removed the bird bath, as it seemed a
> likely means of passing the infection.
>
> I then happened upon an article in Cornell U. Ornithology Dept.'s
> newsletter Birdscope (Aug., 2007) about the disease. They are
> conducting a feeder survey of the disease occurrence on their website:
> www.birds.cornell.edu/hofi. They have some photos on the site of
> infected individuals.
>
> Then during the deep snow last week, 3 house finches showed up for the
> first time. But they were all healthy.
>
> I didn't see any blinded individuals for about a week, so I refilled
> the bird bath again.
>
> Yesterday, I saw the first totally blind goldfinch and a half blind
> purple finch again in about a week.
>
> I would suspect this disease would be far more common in urban areas
> with lots of house finches, than here in the middle of a forest.
> However, I have had over 100 goldfinches and over 50 purple finches at
> my feeders all winter, so I am a bit worried.
>
> Have any of you seen infected finches at your feeders?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bruce
>
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Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
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