The following alert is from Karen Strider who lives at 2005 Ridgetop Drive.
The photos above are of a bird that had been hanging out on our front porch. I noticed it especially because it would stretch its neck up and appear to try to be seeing what looked like a larger area–odd behavior that I had not seen in other birds. From what I could tell it also seemed to have something wrong with its eyes. I finally grabbed my camera, snapped a few photos and uploaded them on my computer.
My first thought was that it had cataracts and I e-mailed the photo to the SPCA for some help in at least pointing me in the right direction. They gave me the email of the Wildlife Center in Waynesboro so I contacted them. I received an email back from one of their Vets saying her best guess without being able to examine the bird was something called “mycoplasma conjunctivitis.” It infects house finches (which is what this bird is) and is highly infectious. It can be spread especially through bird feeders and bird baths. She said that it can also infect other species of birds as well. I have not seen the bird in the last few days so it might have died from the infection if that is what it was.
Here is a link to a photo of a healthy house finch:
http://www.pbase.com/rcm1840/image/53519361
Below is the actual advice that I was given.
“Wthout seeing the bird directly, it is difficult to say definitively… But given the species of bird (house finch) and the visible ocular lesion, I would guess that it’s mycoplasma conjunctivitis. It is an infectious disease which could spread to other song birds particularly at bird feeders. Typically it is progressive, meaning that it doesn’t get better on its own, and the patient slowly deteriorates. We eventually get these patients when there are essentially blind and start to become so weak they are easy to catch. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for mycoplasma; it may improve, but tends to relapse particularly during times of stress (molting/breeding). If it is mycoplasma, unfortunately the most humane option is euthanasia. The other possibility is some sort of bilateral trauma (to both eyes). It would be unusual, but certainly not unheard of.
It is possible for contamination to occur at a bird bath, particularly if it’s not cleaned regularly and a lot of birds use it. My recommendation is to clean it thoroughly once weekly with dilute chlorox (1 part to 10 parts water). Make sure to scrub away any organic matter first then scrub it with the chlorox mixture and let it set for 5-10 minutes. rinse it thoroughly, then fill it regular water. There isn’t anything safe that you could put in the water to prevent spreading.”
Elizabeth F. Daut, DVM
Veterinary Fellow
Wildlife Center of Virginia
www.wildlifecenter.org
Following are two additional references pertaining to this issue.
