Subject: Growth on Stellar's Jays and others' feet
Date: Mar 18 15:23:07 2003
From: Blevins, Gary - GaryB at spokanefalls.edu


I'm not positive without actually seeing the birds described, but, this
sounds like Avian Pox. Here's a web site for additional information:

http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/facts/avepox.html
<http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/facts/avepox.html>

Also, here's additional information from a different site.

Gary

-----Original Message----

Two forms of avian pox exist. In the more common form, wart-like growths
appear on the featherless areas of the body such as around the eye, the base
of the beak, and on the legs and feet. In the second form, plaques develop
on the mucous membrane of the mouth, throat,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Avian Pox




Avian Pox

trachea, and lungs, resulting in impaired breathing and difficulty in
feeding. Secondary infections often develop and ultimately lead to an
infected bird's death.

Avian pox can be caused by several strains of Poxvirus and has been reported
in at


least 60 species of birds from 20 families, such as turkeys, hawks, owls,
and sparrows. The virus can be spread by direct contact with infected birds
or contaminated surfaces (for example, feeders), or by ingestion of
contaminated food or wat

-
From: Mhrudkaj at aol.com [mailto:Mhrudkaj at aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2003 2:47 PM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: Growth on Stellar's Jays and others' feet


I haven't seen any growths on Stellar's Jays feet but have seen something
similar on the feed of purple finches that come to my deck to feed. Looking
at the feet with binoculars reveals what looks like a pale yellowish-gray
fungus growing from between the scales on the feet, toes and lower legs.
The ones I've seen don't seem to be impaired in perching or hopping about.
Also I've not noticed the growth going further than the elbow/knee.
However, it does seem that the 'infected' birds disappear after a couple
weeks. I had two last fall and again this month two more with the fungal
growths. Unknown if they are the same birds as last fall. It doesn't appear
to spread as the other birds don't show any symptoms or signs of illness.

What is this and could it be related to the continuous wet weather promoting
fungal growth?

Mary Hrudkaj
hrudkajm at hotmail.com
Belfair/Tahuya

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/attachments/20030318/bdcfda39/attachment.htm
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: clip_image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 12689 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/attachments/20030318/bdcfda39/clip_image001.jpg
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: clip_image002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 9493 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/attachments/20030318/bdcfda39/clip_image002.jpg