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What to do
House Finch Eye Disease
Avian Pox
Salmonellosis
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 What do I do if I see a sick bird?
Because feeders offer you an up-close view of birds, and because birds seek out easy meals when their health is compromised, you might occasionally see a sick bird at your feeder. Only veterinarians or federally licensed wildlife rehabilitators can legally treat wild birds. If you see a bird that appears to be compromised in some way, perhaps due to sickness or injury, do not try to care for the bird yourself. It is illegal for you to possess most wild birds unless you are under the direction of someone licensed for their care.
If a sick bird comes to your feeder, minimize the risk of infecting other birds by cleaning your feeder area thoroughly. If you see several sick birds, take down all your feeders for at least a week to give the birds a chance to disperse. Remember that prevention is the key to avoiding the spread of disease. Regularly clean your feeders even when there are no signs of disease.
Project participants can report sick birds observed during the FeederWatch season.
For more information on diseases affecting wild birds, contact the National Wildlife Health Center in the U.S. or the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre in Canada. If you find a bird that you believe needs intervention to survive, contact a wildlife rehabilitator.
House Finch eye disease
House Finch eye disease was first noticed in 1994 by a handful of FeederWatchers in the Washington, D.C., area. |
| Birds infected with this disease (also called mycoplasmal conjunctivitis) appear to have red, swollen, runny, or crusty eyes. In extreme cases the eyes become swollen shut and the bird becomes blind. You might observe an infected bird sitting quietly in
your yard, clumsily scratching an eye against its foot or a perch. While some infected
birds recover, many die from starvation, exposure, or predation. |
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| Photo by Raymond Belhumeur, Saint-Hubert, Quebec |
Conjunctivitis can have many causes, but the type most often seen in House Finches is caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma gallisepticum. This bacterium has long been known as a pathogen of domestic turkeys and chickens, but has been observed in House Finches only since 1994. The disease has affected several other species, including American Goldfinch, Evening Grosbeak, and Purple Finch.
Avian Pox |
| Two forms of avian pox exist. In
the more common form, wart-like growths appear on the featherless areas of the body, such
as around the eye, the base of the bill, and on the legs and feet. |
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In the second form, plaques develop on the mucous membrane of the mouth, throat, trachea, and lungs, resulting in
impaired breathing and difficulty feeding. |
| Photos by Chris Bumbar, Thousand Oaks, California |
Avian pox can be caused by several strains of the pox virus and has been reported in at least 60 species of
birds, including turkeys, hawks, owls, and sparrows. The virus can be
spread by direct contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces (e.g., feeders) or by ingestion of contaminated food or water.
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Salmonellosis
Salmonellosis is caused by a bacteria belonging
to the genus Salmonella. It is a common cause of mortality in feeder birds, but
the symptoms are not always obvious. Sick birds may appear thin or fat and fluffed up and may have swollen eyelids. They are often lethargic and easy to
approach. Some infected birds may show no outward symptoms but are carriers of the disease
and can spread the infection to other birds.
Salmonellosis is primarily transmitted by fecal
contamination of food and water by sick birds, though it alsocan be transmitted by bird-to-bird contact. Occasionally, outbreaks of the disease
cause significant mortality in certain species including Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, and American Goldfinch..
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