Comments on: Help Us Track Sick Birds With Project FeederWatch

By: tiffany

tiffany — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 22:03:54 +0000

I have a bird here in southern Illinois I’ve never seen. Trying to figure out what it is. Can’t seem to get a picture to upload tho.

[This comment has been migrated from an earlier post version by Cornell Lab staff.]

By: Andree Dubreuil

Andree Dubreuil — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 21:24:57 +0000

For the last 15 days ,, I have been a Lucky,, bird observer,, and if I may note,, not one of my observations was entered nor registered in E-Bird,, to see GALLUPUS OF HUNDREDS OF cOMMON rEDPOLLS,, IS UNIQUE,,
Many of my observations and pictures have been sent to Bird Studies Canada.. hundreds of Common Redpolls..
For all of you,, who feed them,, I sincerely greet you..
and perhaps our mentions of them kept secret.. But.. as I sit in front of my patio Windows,, with the wonderful stickers,, which avoid,, and stunnings,, I must admit.. this
and the many moments of their migration flight,, and the wonderful support of all the backyard birders..
Greetings.. and your seeds, pictures, patience,, is a reward to me.. as ,, I know,, you are there for them..
I gratefully thank you
Andree Dubreuil, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada

[This comment has been migrated from an earlier post version by Cornell Lab staff.]

By: Elizabeth Dean

Elizabeth Dean — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 16:58:58 +0000

Since about the second week of March I began to find dead Pine Siskins. To date there have been 6 or 7. I have a couple of feeders with sunflower meats and the Siskins have been a ravishing horde emptying them every day. At first I noticed that one or 2 that wouldn’t fly away when we approached. Shortly afterwards I began to find dead birds. I took the feeders down and cleaned them with water and diluted bleach. I kept them down for a week hoping the Siskins would move on. I’ve since read that they are susceptible to salmonella. I’m keeping the feeders and the bird bath clean. The ravishing hordes of Siskins are still around. I’m ready for them to go home so the others birds have a chance at the feeders…well, then the Gold Finches would be the major horde. How can I complain?

By: Anita Kennedy

Anita Kennedy — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 23:20:37 +0000

This year is the first year that I have observed the Purple finches with what I think is conjunctivitis, the birds’eye was almost swollen shut and it kept wiping both eyes. I have seen a couple more with the disease, but not sure which disease it was. I will clean feeders at once.

From southwest MO

By: Jack VanDyk

Jack VanDyk — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 03:50:12 +0000

Over the last few years I also observed House finches with conjunctivitis on our feeders, indeed sad to see.
I have seen Gold finches too with both eyes affected. Three winters back when we had an irruption year with a lot of Pine Siskins and Common Redpolls, several of these birds were effected too.
I am not sure of this all was from conjunctivitis or avian pox. All I remember that all these birds did have swollen eyes, and we’re constantly feeding..
I do have many birds in my yard and feed them all year long. Will clean feeders again too.
From Vernon British Columbia Canada.

By: Hui

Hui — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 05:04:20 +0000

Four House Finches came to our feeders late this afternoon, and one of these was a female House Finch with conjunctivitis in her left eye (it had basically swollen her eye to the point that you could not see the eye at all). She was still able to feed as her right eye appeared healthy. Very sad to see this.

I have recently given all the feeders a good cleaning, but will do so once again.

From Delta, British Columbia, (Western) Canada.

By: Regina

Regina — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 00:05:45 +0000

During this weekend’s feeder watch, I observed a tufted titmouse missing its left eye. There did not appear to be any swelling, tumors or growths on other parts of the body. The area around the missing eye was ‘messy’ looking, the way the feathers of infected house finches sometimes appear. From what I’ve read about House Finch Eye Disease, it seems unlikely this titmouse has conjunctivitis, but may actually be the victim of avian pox. Is this correct? In either case, a thorough cleaning of the feeders is warranted, and I will continue to monitor this individual as long as it frequents the area.

By: Sampson

Sampson — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 17:57:14 +0000

In reply to Gayly Opem.

Hi Gayly,
I believe these symptoms are from avian pox. I have seen tumors and places on birds that are featherless. However,they are House Finches where I live. We don’t have Cardinals here in the Southern Sierras however, I wish we did. I would suggest cleaning the birdbath with 10% bleach/water and the feeder too. Just spray on leave for 10 minutes or so then rinse with water. It’s not full proof since they obviously can make contact with with each other away from the feeders but I’m told it helps.

By: Gayly Opem

Gayly Opem — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 22:59:45 +0000

I live along Lake Michigan in Caledonia, Wisconsin 53402. I had house finches at my feeder last year with the eye disease but so far this year, none have appeared. However, I have cardinals that has some type of disease, both last year and this year. They lose their feathers, usually starting on th head so there is no crest. Last year, I had a male like that and this year, a male and female. The female seems to have developed the condition in the last few weeks, the male earlier. It is very sad to see such regal birds looking so poorly. Do you know what this might be?

By: Mike Mason

Mike Mason — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 03:46:12 +0000

I saw a female finch on my feeder last week that apparently had this infection. One eye was totally swollen shut and looked very infected. We saw the same bird, or perhaps a different one the following days. Will definitely be cleaning my feeders.