American Goldfinches Recover from Eye Disease: Patient 23-20 and 23-27
American Goldfinches are a common backyard bird here in Pennsylvania; however, like many species who frequent bird feeders, they frequently suffer from Finch eye disease.
Finch Eye Disease
Finch eye disease, a.k.a. Mycoplasmal conjunctivitis, is a bacterial infection that causes red, swollen eyes in House Finches, Blue Jays, and American Goldfinches--like patients 23-20 and 23-27. The infection can cause a bird's eyes to crust over, and can even result in damage to the eye and complete vision loss in addition to other upper respiratory symptoms.
This highly communicable disease can be spread between birds through close contact with each other or shared surfaces. Feeders or baths that many birds rub their faces on every day is a quick way for an infection to spread.
Clean Feeders to Stop the Spread
It's important to clean bird feeders and baths weekly to prevent the spread of Finch eye disease at your home.
1.) Disinfect the entire feeder/bath using a diluted bleach solution (about 10% bleach, 90% water).
2.) Thoroughly rinse the feeder/bath to remove any bleach.
3.) Allow the feeder/bath to dry completely before refilling and rehanging.
If you spot an infected bird at your house, remove your feeders and baths for a few days and clean them before you replace them.
From Recovery to Release
Patients 23-20 and 23-27, both female American Goldfinches, arrived at our center within a few days of each other. Both showed clear symptoms of Finch eye disease and began a course of antibiotic treatment. During this time, our team took multiple precautions to prevent the spread of disease between bird patients: we washed our hands before and after handling infected birds, we wore gloves when handling infected birds, and we completed daily care for infected birds after all other bird patients have been cared for.
During their treatment the girls began to sing to each other across the room, so when they were healthy and ready to move to an outdoor flight enclosure we introduced them. They became fast friends and, after over a month in recovery, were able to be released together!
