Hi Tweets,

I saw a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER in my yard last week, hanging around, but not
feeding from the suet feeder. He seemed more interested in the sap from the
trees (hence the name?). This is the first one I've seen in more than 6
years of feeding and watching at this location. Also, I am sad to say that I
also have at least 1 sick finch that has been coming to my feeders. It looks
very much like what has been described - crusty, swollen shut eye with a
large growth above, an almost bald head with some wierd looking single
feathers or hairs sticking up but also something I haven't heard mentioned -
a rather large round growth on the lower leg. This finch is still able to
flit around with the rest of them, for now anyway and so far I have only seen
this one sick one. I have been periodically cleaning and sterilizing the
feeders ever since last spring when I had several sick PINE SISKINS, but it
looks as though I may need to step it up a bit. I will also check out those
web sights everybody's been mentioning.

Dayna Yalowicki
Bothell, Wa
Canyon Park area