This is an interesting development. We should be looking for more
information on how to be sure the afflicted birds we see have this
disease. Note especially the following article (from Suzanne's post),
which points out that the avian pox virus can look like conjunctivitis
as well, and this may make it difficult to be sure of what we are
seeing in the west. I have an afflicted House Finch at my feeder now,
but I also have photos of a towhee from the 1980's, when the bacterial
conjunctivitis was not known here (to my knowledge). I have also seen a
siskin this year with a growth on its foot, which is also a symptom of
avian pox ("bumblefoot").

http://birds.cornell.edu/hofi/dhondt.html

Bruce Whittington
Ladysmith, BC
mailto: fieldnat at pacificcoast.net
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