House Finches with eye virus
Nov 22, 2016 15:29:20 #
Many UHH members have bird feeders so I thought this information might answer some questions.
House Finches are not originally from North America...as so often happens when humans intercede, some merchant's imported many of these birds that were referred to as Hollywood Finches and the escaped birds bred and spread rapidly. In about 1994, some of the House Finches in the DC, MD and VA areas were observed bearing a Conjunctivitis type condition. We know of Conjunctivitis commonly as "pink eye". This condition has primarily occurred in the House Finch population but random reports have been made that include the American Goldfinch and the Evening Grosbeak. Since I live in Maryland, I occasionally see some infected birds...not often, but a few times per year. Since "pink eye" is contagious, there is some opportunity for the disease to be transmitted in the feeder area. If you happen to detect a bird with the disease, you might want to consider emptying the feeders and clean them with a ten percent bleach solution...let feeder thoroughly dry before refilling.
The disease is not usually fatal to the birds, but in most cases, the eyes swell shut and the bird dies from starvation.
The condition is not reported to be infectious to humans but is an avian problem.
Since the condition might well exist if you have any House Finches in your area, I have photographed two different infected birds this Fall. I am attaching a left eye and a right eye shot of each. Both subjects showed up when I had the wrong lens on the camera so they are not as sharp as I would have liked them to be.
The link below will take any of you who are interested to, perhaps, the best resource for information of any type relating to birds...Cornell Ornithology Lab. When you get there, Google..."House Finch, Eye Disease" for additional information.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/
Bob
House Finches are not originally from North America...as so often happens when humans intercede, some merchant's imported many of these birds that were referred to as Hollywood Finches and the escaped birds bred and spread rapidly. In about 1994, some of the House Finches in the DC, MD and VA areas were observed bearing a Conjunctivitis type condition. We know of Conjunctivitis commonly as "pink eye". This condition has primarily occurred in the House Finch population but random reports have been made that include the American Goldfinch and the Evening Grosbeak. Since I live in Maryland, I occasionally see some infected birds...not often, but a few times per year. Since "pink eye" is contagious, there is some opportunity for the disease to be transmitted in the feeder area. If you happen to detect a bird with the disease, you might want to consider emptying the feeders and clean them with a ten percent bleach solution...let feeder thoroughly dry before refilling.
The disease is not usually fatal to the birds, but in most cases, the eyes swell shut and the bird dies from starvation.
The condition is not reported to be infectious to humans but is an avian problem.
Since the condition might well exist if you have any House Finches in your area, I have photographed two different infected birds this Fall. I am attaching a left eye and a right eye shot of each. Both subjects showed up when I had the wrong lens on the camera so they are not as sharp as I would have liked them to be.
The link below will take any of you who are interested to, perhaps, the best resource for information of any type relating to birds...Cornell Ornithology Lab. When you get there, Google..."House Finch, Eye Disease" for additional information.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/
Bob
Example A-Blind in left eye
(Download)
Example A-Right eye seems OK
(Download)
Example B-Left eye less infected than right eye
(Download)
Example B-Basically blind in right eye
(Download)
Nov 22, 2016 16:07:44 #
Oh Bob, these are painful to see but great documentation and information. I don't see as many diseased house finches as I used to, thank goodness, but we still get one every now and then with conjunctivitis. Great advice about keeping feeders clean so the disease has less chance to spread.
Nov 23, 2016 07:00:11 #
Nov 23, 2016 08:18:53 #
Nov 23, 2016 14:54:50 #
Dixiegirl wrote:
Oh Bob, these are painful to see but great documentation and information. I don't see as many diseased house finches as I used to, thank goodness, but we still get one every now and then with conjunctivitis. Great advice about keeping feeders clean so the disease has less chance to spread.
Glad you visited and for adding your remarks to the post!
Have a nice day!
Bob
Nov 23, 2016 14:56:15 #
sb wrote:
Sad - thanks for the information and advice!
It's a real pleasure to hear from you again, Steve! Thanks for taking the time to add your comments!
Bob
Nov 23, 2016 14:57:40 #
djb47 wrote:
So sad, thanks for the heads up.
Thanks, Don! Nature seems to take care of her own! Thanks for visiting!
Bob
Nov 24, 2016 00:55:57 #
Nov 24, 2016 09:18:47 #
CathyAnn wrote:
How sad! 
I appreciate your visiting the post and for leaving your comment, Cathy Ann!
Bob
Dec 2, 2016 12:08:31 #
bob_71 wrote:
Many UHH members have bird feeders so I thought th... (show quote)
Poor little tweeties. I haven't seen any infected yet . Thanks for the info. I will check it out.
Dec 2, 2016 16:11:38 #
merrytexan wrote:
Poor little tweeties. I haven't seen any infected yet . Thanks for the info. I will check it out.
Glad to report that I have not seen any more since this post! Thanks for commenting!
Bob
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