Date: 1/25/26 11:12 am From: Peter Loshin <peter.loshin...> Subject: Re: [Arlington Birds] Bird in distress in Arlington Heights -- ID?
Thanks for the tips -- we took the feeder down shortly after seeing
Grayson's message.
Once the snow ends and we're able to leave the house, we will try to follow
Susan's advice.
Peter
On Sunday, January 25, 2026 at 2:10:11 PM UTC-5 Susan Moses wrote:
> Hi -
>
> If the bird has conjunctivitis it can be treated at the Tufts Wildlife
> Clinic in North Grafton. The Clinic is closed for the rest of today because
> of the weather, but may re-open tomorrow afternoon.
>
> In the meantime, if you are able to catch the bird (you can use a small
> towel to scoop it up), put it (towel and all) in a small box with air holes
> and a secure lid, and keep it in a warm quiet place overnight. Call the
> Clinic mid-morning (508-839-7918 <(508)%20839-7918>) and leave a message
> and someone will call you back. If you can’t catch it, try to keep an eye
> on it in case it declines (in which case it will be easier to catch).
>
> You can email me directly if you have any questions (I work at the
> Clinic).
>
> Thanks.
>
> Susan Moses
> Cambridge, MA
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jan 25, 2026, at 12:38 PM, Grayson Shannon <glshan......> wrote:
>
>
>
> Hello!
>
> This is an American Goldfinch that appears to have something wrong with
> its eye. I’m not an expert in the matter, but this looks like avian
> conjunctivitis (or “House Finch Eye Disease”). Avian conjunctivitis is
> extremely contagious, and unfortunately there isn’t much you can do for
> this individual. It may recover from the illness, or it may not. Sick or
> injured birds are much more likely to get preyed upon. (I don’t believe
> there is current evidence to suggest that a predator (especially a
> non-avian one) could get sick from this)
>
> That said, currently most advice out there suggests that the best thing
> you can do is not for this bird but for the others around it. Take down
> your feeders and clean them (we should all be doing this regularly!) Some
> advise leaving your feeders down for a few weeks - this gives time for the
> infected bird to either recover or die, while lowering the risk of exposing
> other birds. It is sad, but sometimes the best we can do is allow nature to
> take its course.
>
>
> For more information:
> https://feederwatch.org/house-finch-eye-disease/ > https://cwhl.vet.cornell.edu/resource/mycoplasmal-conjunctivitis > https://extension.psu.edu/house-finch-conjunctivitis >
>
>
>
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