** Reply to note from Kelly M.

>
> Were there some messages posted in the past year or so on a disease or
> parasite or other pathology common in House Finches?

<cut>

A search on Deja News brought up this post from rec.birds:

<begin quote>...

Subject: Re: poor housefinches... :-(
From: myotis at mhtc.nospam.net (sumroz)
Date: 1997/10/06
Message-Id: <myotis-0610970620200001 at dodg-cas1-cs-13.dial.mhtc.net>
Newsgroups: rec.birds
[More Headers]


These two sites -

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol3no1/fischer2.htm) and especially

http://members.aol.com/FinchMG/Home.htm

are excellent sources for information on house finch conjunctivitis
(mycoplasma gallisepticum). I found everything I needed to know there -
thanks to the readers (Alex & Maria) who posted these urls.

Searching DejaNews I also came across a veterinarian's page, with advice
on other common bird diseases and keeping bird feeders clean:

http://www.birdware.com/astrid.htm

Seeing so many finches at my feeders with the disease, I'm torn as to what
course to take: follow the cleaning and sterilizing regime and add more
feeders, or remove the feeders altogether. Either way, the birds seemed to
be doomed.

Sadly, the oncoming winter may be a blessing in disguise.

<end quote>

- Jack

Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca