Subject: [Tweeters] Three dead House Finches in my yard
Date: Jul 29 11:09:47 2012
From: Kathleen Hartman - kathartman at yahoo.com


Found the first one 3 weeks ago, dead in one of the feeder
trays. We thought it very strange, but it didn?t occur to us that there may be a
problem. I found the 2nd one yesterday, still alive. It didn?t move when I
approached, and its head was tucked way back behind it. It was a juvenile, so I
thought maybe the parents left it there for a while. A little later, I saw a young finch
in the suet feeder, not moving. It eventually made it down to the patio. Its
head started lolling back, and it kept losing its balance. It died a short
while later. Today, I found another juvenile finch, dying, under my seed feeder.
It died a half hour later. The finch from 3 weeks ago may be unrelated to the
recent ones, but of course I can?t know that.
Some potential factors? I live right on the southern edge of the arboretum and golf
course. Literally, it goes golf course/fence and tall bushes/my yard. I?ve
lived here for 2 months. I have heard the golf course people spraying stuff on
the other side of the fence, but the bushes are thick and I can't see what they're doing. I
thought I saw some of it spray over into the bushes on my side. I could ask the
golf course what they?re spraying, but not sure they?ll be forthcoming about
that info.
I do have birds run into my windows sometimes, usually not
hard, and I haven?t found any dead. Not sure of the likelihood of losing three
of the same species to window strikes.
I?m not great about cleaning the feeders regularly, although
I give them fresh water almost every day. I cleaned/disinfected the feeders and
birdbath yesterday.
I called the Dept. of Health yesterday to report it. They
said they?re recording bird deaths, but they?ve lost their funding and can?t
pick them up and test them for disease. (!)
Iam of course concerned about the other birds in my yard,
including a beautiful resident male California Quail. I?m somewhat at a loss
about what to do. Take down the feeders? Somehow get today?s dead bird tested?
Find out if the golf course is spraying weed killers near my yard? Any advice about
courses of action would be most welcome.
Thanks very much,
Kathy Hartman
Seattle, WA