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FeederWatchers Study Finch Disease Outbreak A mysterious disease afflicting eastern House Finch populations has caught the attention of wildlife biologists and birders alike. This winter Project FeederWatch participants and other folks who feed birds have the chance to collect information that should shed more light on the problem. The disease, an eye infection, has been confirmed in House Finches in half a dozen eastern states; as of October, no cases had been reported in Canada. Infected birds have swollen, puffy faces or runny or crusted eyes. The prime suspect is the microorganism Mycoplasma gallicepticum, usually a disease of poultry. It causes no risk to humans. Ornithologist André Dhondt, director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Bird Population Studies program, has asked FeederWatchers in the East to lend their expertise to a study of the distribution of the disease. In November eastern participants received special data forms they could use to record the presence of healthy and diseased birds—information that will help track how the disease is spreading. Dhondt also wants to find out whether bird species other than House Finches are affected. Even if you’re not a FeederWatcher, you can help. To reduce the spread of infection, clean your feeders regularly with a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water. Clean up spilled seed and hulls beneath feeders, or move your feeders periodically to prevent a buildup of disease organisms in the soil below them. And if you see sick birds at your feeder, alert the wildlife department in your state or province. Participation in the House Finch Disease Survey is free to Project FeederWatch participants and Lab members. We ask that others pay $7 (U.S. funds) to cover the cost of materials and postage. To take part in this significant study, send your name and address to House Finch Disease Survey, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, New York 14850. |
