We have had many Purple Finches throughout the winter and early
spring. I allowed my feeders to empty recently and cleaned them all
thoroughly due to seeing at least 2 Purple Finches with
conjunctivitis. I first noticed the disease when I was taking down a
feeder to refill it, and a male Purple Finch did not fly away when I
approached. I was able to eyeball the bird and determined it was
almost completely blind; I place the feeder near the porch rail and
he stepped off. He, as well as a couple of female Purple Finches in
varying stages of the disease, continued to hang out at the feeders
for a week or more flying back and forth clumsily from our ornamental
apple tree. We still have some Purple Finches, though the sick ones
seem to be gone; last week I buried a dead one that appeared to have
been handled by one of our dogs
Other birds we are seeing now at the feeders and around the farm are
Juncos; Gold Finches; Chipping Sparrows; Phoebes (at least 2 nests);
Chickadees; White Breasted Nuthatches; Pileated, Red-bellied, Downy &
Hairy Woodpeckers; Bluebirds; Red Shouldered Hawks; Turkey Vultures;
Crows; and Mourning Doves. I rescued a Pine Warbler that flew into
the window last week and set it on top of my compost to recover where
we got an excellent photo. Last summer I saw Tree Sparrows and look
forward to seeing some again soon.
Bonnie Duda
Winchester (Gainsboro/Siler)
"The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of
wonder." -- Ralph W. Sockman
