Posted by Ron Dudley on October 7, 2007 at 4:03 PM
I was photographing birds in my backyard this morning. Within 10 minutes I shot three birds with apparent tumors - a Mourning Dove and two House Finches. I've only been doing avian photography since January but I don't remember ever seeing a bird with a tumor, though I know it's not at all unusual. What I did think was very unusual was to see three of them in such a short time.
This dove was feeding and acting normally - in fact it seemed to be king of the bird seed stash and very dominant. One finch had a tumor on the side of it's face and the other finch had a large tumor on one of it's toes.
Does anyone know if there has been a recent increase in bird tumors? Is it likely to be just a coincidence that I saw three so quickly? Cause for alarm? Just wondering if there's some kind of awful "trend" out there in the bird world. By the way, this was shot in Salt Lake City.
UPDATE: I took the pictures to Wildlife Resources this morning and talked with a vertebrate disease specialist. Diagnosis - probably avian pox - a viral disease that most often causes wart-like growths on exposed skin of the bird - primarily around the feet, legs, beak and face. Doves and finches are particularly susceptable to this disease - all four of the birds I have noticed with the growths were Mourning Doves or House Finches. They recommended that I periodically wash my feeder with a 5% bleach solution (other sources say 10%), which I will do. They seemed interested and concerned enough to want to keep copies of my photos and asked me to give them a call if I find a "victim" that has died so they can come out and pick it up for a lab confirmation of the diagnosis. Surprisingly, birds often recover from avian pox if the symptoms don't interfere with feeding.
Posted by Peter Conway on October 8, 2007 at 3:12 PM
Ron,
Interesting question. I have never seen one. Seems very odd that you would see three that close together! Is there a State biologist that you could contact?
Peter
Posted by Ron Dudley on October 8, 2007 at 5:54 PM
Peter, I just paid a visit to the state Division of Wildlife Resources with images in hand. I'm such a dummy - it's Columbus Day and they're closed. I'll try again, maybe tomorrow.
Grateful for your concern and for passing along information that will help to keep our bird friends healthy. Thanks.
Posted by Steve Foss on October 10, 2007 at 5:46 AM
I've seen two cases of avian pox on purple finches at my feeding station in the last three years. I do the bleach thing, too. My info also indicates that the growths often fall off and cause no lasting harm.
Discussion
4 repliesThis dove was feeding and acting normally - in fact it seemed to be king of the bird seed stash and very dominant. One finch had a tumor on the side of it's face and the other finch had a large tumor on one of it's toes.
Does anyone know if there has been a recent increase in bird tumors? Is it likely to be just a coincidence that I saw three so quickly? Cause for alarm? Just wondering if there's some kind of awful "trend" out there in the bird world. By the way, this was shot in Salt Lake City.
UPDATE: I took the pictures to Wildlife Resources this morning and talked with a vertebrate disease specialist. Diagnosis - probably avian pox - a viral disease that most often causes wart-like growths on exposed skin of the bird - primarily around the feet, legs, beak and face. Doves and finches are particularly susceptable to this disease - all four of the birds I have noticed with the growths were Mourning Doves or House Finches. They recommended that I periodically wash my feeder with a 5% bleach solution (other sources say 10%), which I will do. They seemed interested and concerned enough to want to keep copies of my photos and asked me to give them a call if I find a "victim" that has died so they can come out and pick it up for a lab confirmation of the diagnosis. Surprisingly, birds often recover from avian pox if the symptoms don't interfere with feeding.
Interesting question. I have never seen one. Seems very odd that you would see three that close together! Is there a State biologist that you could contact?
Peter