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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