Subject: Pine Siskin - diseased?
Date: Feb 5 19:58:43 2004
From: Parent Family - dpdvm at whidbey.com


J.V. and Tweeters,

In general, when a prey animal such as a passerine bird begins to look
sick - fluffed/not moving/allowing close approach by humans, it is near
death. All those sharp-shinned and cooper's hawks will pick them off if
they behave the least bit abnormally. They put on a good show in the
early stages of disease to avoid being eaten.

Your siskin is very sick and will probably not live more than a day or
two. If these little guys are delivered to my vet clinic I usually
euthanize them right away. I've tried to rehabilitate them but I think
all I've succeeded in doing is prolong their misery in a very strange
environment. I've never saved one that looked like what you've
described, despite some hard work. If you'd like to try, call your local
vet for advice on who has a license to treat wildlife in your area.

Sorry for the bad news. I know how easy it is to become attached to a
sick critter. Don't be too hard on yourself. This bird could be
suffering from a variety of non-bird-feeder related ailments. It's not a
kind world out there in the winter.

Dave Parent, Freeland, WA mailto: dpdvm at whidbey.com



-----Original Message-----
From: TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu
[mailto:TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of J Bonham
Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2004 5:30 PM
To: tweeters
Subject: Pine Siskin - diseased?

I have been watching the discussion about Pine Siskin disease.? I have a
Pine Siskin, apparently a female, that I am now worried about.
?
In the research I have been trying to do on Pine Siskins, they are not
supposed to be solitary birds.? The one coming regularly to my feeder
seems to be alone.? To my knowledge, I have yet to hear it.?? Of course,
that could be because I don't really know what to listen for yet.
?
This particular bird sat for nearly an hour today on the outer end of my
"Chickadee" feeder.? It didn't move at all, except for seeming to be
alert to the other birds coming and going.? It sat ruffled up the entire
time.
?
Again about an hour later I saw it on my thistle feeder.? It sat,
ruffled up, seemingly alert to the other birds as they came and went to
this feeder, but did not move at all from its perch.
?
Is this normal for a Pine Siskin?? I have gotten pretty attached to her,
and she lets me within a foot or two of her now.? Her apparent lethargy
is beginning to worry me after I read about Pine Siskin disease.??
Should I be worried?? I'm only disinfecting my feeder about once a week,
and I don't want to endanger the other birds using it.
?
J.V.Bonham
Centralia, WA
jvbonham at msn.com