Friendly observation/advice (for EVERYONE not just Marcus), caring about the birds,,,,
I believe the second from top bird (American Goldfinch) has finch conjunctivitis. My finches get it here too, but rarely now, because I have *finally* become a stickler on cleaning my feeder (frequently and quickly)
a reference to get started on understanding the disease:
I pull my feeder about once every 10 days or so. I simply use a picked/pointed tool to remove all sticky seed clumps near feeding ports and squirt Dawn in all areas, rinse thoroughly, use hair dryer to dry remaining water droplets, reassemble and refill. In no more than 5 minutes I have the feeder refilled and hanging outside again.
It took me months/years to learn what was happening. Now, it is no inconvenience because I've watched their fate. When a finch gets conjunctivitis it is probably a death sentence. The is because the tissue around the eye becomes increasingly scabbed and closes the eye off to light. The bird gradually loses eyesight and starves.
If an American Goldfinch is alone at the feeder, put binoculars on it and look at both eyes. It almost certainly has conjunctivitis. That is because AGF's are *very* gregarious. They do not do anything alone. A lone bird is alone only because it is unable to keep up with the clan. Sadly, it will fly from a branch just a few feet and be forced to return to the branch, because it cannot see anymore to fly.
The House Finch (species) is more susceptible to this terrible disease than the AGF
Thanks for understanding Marcus. I know you care about the birds
Jan 29, 2023 at 06:01 AM
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Friendly observation/advice (for EVERYONE not just Marcus), caring about the birds,,,,
The second from top bird (American Goldfinch) has finch conjunctivitis. My finches get it here too, but rarely now, because I have *finally* become a stickler on cleaning my feeder (frequently and quickly)
a reference to get started on understanding the disease:
I pull my feeder about once every 10 days or so. I simply use a picked/pointed tool to remove all sticky seed clumps near feeding ports and squirt Dawn in all areas, rinse thoroughly, use hair dryer to dry remaining water droplets, reassemble and refill. In no more than 5 minutes I have the feeder refilled and hanging outside again.
It took me months/years to learn what was happening. Now, it is no inconvenience because I've watched their fate. When a finch gets conjunctivitis it is probably a death sentence. The is because the tissue around the eye becomes increasingly scabbed and closes the eye off to light. The bird gradually loses eyesight and starves.
If an American Goldfinch is alone at the feeder, put binoculars on it and look at both eyes. It almost certainly has conjunctivitis. That is because AGF's are *very* gregarious. They do not do anything alone. A lone bird is alone only because it is unable to keep up with the clan. Sadly, it will fly from a branch just a few feet and be forced to return to the branch, because it cannot see anymore to fly.
The House Finch (species) is more susceptible to this terrible disease than the AGF
Thanks for understanding and caring about the birds
Jan 29, 2023 at 05:59 AM
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Friendly observation/advice (for EVERYONE not just Marcus), caring about the birds,,,,
The second from top bird (American Goldfinch) has finch conjunctivitis. My finches get it here too, but rarely now, because I have *finally* become a stickler on cleaning my feeder (frequently and quickly)
a reference to get started on understanding the disease:
I pull my feeder about once every 10 days or so. I simply use a picked/pointed tool to remove all sticky seed clumps near feeding ports and squirt Dawn in all areas, rinse thoroughly, use hair dryer to dry remaining water droplets, reassemble and refill. In no more than 5 minutes I have the feeder refilled and hanging outside again.
It took me months/years to learn what was happening. Now, it is no inconvenience because I've watched their fate. When a finch gets conjunctivitis it is probably a death sentence. The is because the tissue around the eye becomes increasingly scabbed and closes the eye off to light. The bird gradually loses eyesight and starves.
If an American Goldfinch is alone at the feeder, put binoculars on it. It almost certainly has conjunctivitis. That is because AGF's are *very* gregarious. They do not do anything alone. A lone bird is alone only because it is unable to keep up with the clan.
The House Finch (species) is more susceptible to this terrible disease than the AGF
Thanks for understanding and caring about the birds
Jan 29, 2023 at 04:39 AM
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