Diseased Bird: Diseased Birds
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I took these photos today (3-23-2016) the first day I re-hung my feeder after an 11 day hiatus. I took the feeders down for 11 days after noticing diseased cardinals and goldfinches. I washed, disinfected and dried all feeders and pole accessories. Imagine my disappointment today after seeing what appears to be the exact same birds with diseases (a male cardinal, a female cardinal, and a goldfinch). The goldfinch in these photos is not overly obviously diseased but 11 days ago a male goldfinch let me get strangely close to him and had noticeable whitish matted eyes.
I wonder about the female cardinal. Does anyone have any insight? It is not so much her eye(s) but simply that she is bald. This is not a time for molting, right?
Thank you for any information you may offer. I am sad because spring is here and the birds are sick and I was sure after 11 days of no feeders I would have at least a few days of pure bird bliss but alas no.
Categories: Eye problems
Comments
3 comments on “Diseased Bird: Diseased Birds”
Summer 2018. Male cardinals with bald heads. Some seem to be losing head feathers. never seen this before.
Spotted a Goldfinch with eye disease in left eye in Reisterstown MD. Snowing hard and bird is alone and sitting on feeder. Saw two house finches with eye disease last summer. – Will take down feeders and clean -Feb.20, 2019
These cardinals are just molting. No need to take down your feeders.