While its nice to gather data and keep Cornell's report-writers employed,
I'm sure that House Finches and everything else that stands to lose from
another MG epidemic or mutation would rather we do away with the very
mechanism that Cornell's own ornithologists and others have implicated in
the spread of MG: birdfeeding. Keep in mind that this disease is not one of
natural origin. It came to be as a result of a series of events that humans
set in motion, just as the form of bird flu now threatening a pandemic did.
Personally I find Cornell's role in all of this unconscionable.

Regards,
Jason Rogers
Banff, AB
hawkowl at hotmail.com


>From: "Dave Parent" <dpdvm at whidbey.com>
>To: "'Jason Rogers'" <hawkowl at hotmail.com>
>Subject: RE: [Tweeters] Re: house finch eye disease
>Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2005 18:48:51 -0800
>
>Hello Tweeters,
>
>Following is a pretty good website about house finch disease courtesy of
>the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Some of the older websites state that it
>is present only in eastern North America but it is alive and well in
>Washington State. If you see the disease, participate in their survey
>and use their report form.
>
>http://www.birds.cornell.edu/hofi/abtdisease.html
>
>Dave Parent,DVM, Freeland, WA
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
>[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Jason
>Rogers
>Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2005 3:01 PM
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: [Tweeters] Re: house finch eye disease
>
>Hi Terri,
>
>I'm assuming that your House Finches are coming to a feeder?
>
>They may be infected with Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) or they may have
>
>pox. In any case, the feeder(s) needs to go. MG has proven itself
>remarkably adaptable in the East, and there is evidence that is is
>moving
>west. As much as no one wants to hear it, feeders have played a
>significant
>role in the spread and, indirectly, possibly even the emergence of the
>MG
>form that that began infecting House Finches, American Goldfinches, and
>other non-poultry species in 1994.
>
>Please do not attempt to catch the birds or have them treated. There is
>a
>concern that individuals treated with antibiotics and released may
>spread a
>more resilient form of MG.
>
>Regards,
>Jason Rogers
>Banff, AB
>hawkowl at hotmail.com
>
>
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>